This unit (CPCWHS1001) of competency specifies the mandatory work health and safety training required prior to undertaking construction work. The unit requires the person to demonstrate personal awareness and knowledge of health and safety legislative requirements in order to work safely and prevent injury or harm to self and others. It covers identifying and orally reporting common construction hazards, understanding basic risk control measures, and identifying procedures for responding to potential incidents and emergencies. It also covers correctly selecting and fitting common personal protective equipment (PPE) used for construction work.
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Assessment
Assessment tasks will be designed to reinforce and extend knowledge and skill competence within set and controlled parameters in accordance with each unit's learning outcomes and performance criteria requirements, including the setting of work based practical application tasks designed to provide evidence of competence outcomes, within periodic and scheduled timelines.
Students will be expected to demonstrate the following required skills:
*identify and orally report two construction hazards
*explain how risk could be reduced or removed in relation to those two hazards
*select appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to control the risk
*explain basic procedures for responding to incidents and emergencies, including types and purpose of the following fire safety equipment:
-fire blankets
-fire-extinguishers, including water, carbon dioxide, powder and foam
-hose reels and mains
*identify and orally explain the meaning of required safety signs and symbols
*explain the purpose of job safety analyses (JSAs), safe work method statements (SWMS) and safety data sheets (SDS)
*explain the roles of the following designated health and safety personnel:
-first aid officers
-work health and safety (WHS) representatives
-WHS committee members
-supervisors.
*The person must also demonstrate correctly fitting to themselves the PPE listed below:
-eye protection
-hearing protection
-hard hat
-high visibility vest, shirt or jacket.Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:
*basic duty of care, and the roles, rights and responsibilities of business owners and workers in relation to working safely while undertaking construction work
*basic meaning of the terms 'hazard' and 'risk'
*basic principles of risk management, including the following five steps in order:
-identify hazard
-assess risk
-consult and report
-control hazard
-review
*basic procedures for accessing first aid
*construction hazards, including those relating to:
-asbestos, confined spaces, electrical: power lines, cords and equipment, excavations and trenches, including underground services, dust, falling objects, hazardous substances and dangerous goods, hot and cold work environments, manual handling, noise, plant and equipment operation, traffic and mobile plant, unplanned collapse, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and working at heights, including scaffolding, construction work that requires a high-risk work licence, types, purpose and use of PPE used in construction, as specified in the performance evidence, and including safety footwear, harnesses and respiratory protection, and UV protective clothing and sunscreen.
*construction emergencies, including:
-chemical spill
-fire
-injury to personnel
-structural collapse
-toxic or flammable vapour emission
-vehicle or mobile plant accident
*construction incidents, including:
-incidents resulting in personal injury or damage to property
-near misses or dangerous occurrences that do not cause injury but may pose an immediate and significant risk to persons or property, and need to be reported so that action can be taken to prevent recurrence
*safe work practices that should be followed in construction work, including:
-accessing and using site amenities for drinking water, hand washing and toilets
-following safety procedures when performing work tasks and using equipment
-identifying and reporting hazards, incidents and injuries in the workplace
-keeping the work area clean, tidy and free from debris
-not using or being affected by drugs and/or alcohol while at work
-preventing bullying and harassment in the workplace
-selecting and using required PPE
-smoking only in designated areas
-storing and removing waste and debris in designated areas
*meanings and symbols associated with construction safety signs, symbols and tags, including:
-emergency information signs: exits, emergency equipment and first aid
-fire signs: location of fire alarms and firefighting equipment
-hazard signs and symbols: danger and warning
-regulatory signs and symbols: prohibition, mandatory and limitation or restriction
-safety and lockout tags: danger and out-of-service tags.
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As part of a course
This unit is studied as part of the following courses. Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course.
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