Description
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This unit covers conducting safety and health investigations in resources and infrastructure industries. It includes determining the investigation objectives; gathering information; evaluating information; identifying courses of action; and preparing and presenting investigation reports.
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Pre/Co-Requisites
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Nil
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Application
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This unit is appropriate for those working in operational roles or on safety committees, at worksites within:
- Civil construction
- Coal mining
- Drilling
- Extractive industries
- Metalliferous mining
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Performance Criteria
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1. Determine the investigation objectives
1.1 Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to conducting safety and health investigations
1.2 Determine the scope of the investigation to ensure pre- and post-incident timeframe is considered consistent with
legislative requirements and site standard
1.3 Determine the proposed investigation objectives from an analysis of the available information and factors
1.4 Test the proposed objectives and clarify the scope of the investigation
1.5 Ensure the final objectives and scope of the investigation will be achievable within available resources and authority
constraints
2. Gather information
2.1 Maintain site security and integrity of evidence in accordance with legislative and site requirements
2.2 Plan and prepare for the systematic collection of information
2.3 Schedule informationcollection and completion to ensure minimum backtracking or repeat actions
2.4 Ensure methods used to collect and examine information, including interviewing and recording, meet standards
and legislative requirements
2.5 Collect, test and organise all informationappropriate to the investigation according to legislative and/or industry
standards
3. Evaluate information
3.1 Assess and evaluate information for its validity and reliability and organise as evidence to aid decision making
3.2 Undertake further research where information is unclear or inadequate, and correct the discrepancy/deficiency
3.3 Analyse the evidence to determine the causes of the incident
3.4 Draw conclusion from the relevant evidence based on reasoned argument and balance of probability or other
agreed standard
3.5 Ensure the findings address the factual objectives established for the investigation
4. Identify courses of action
4.1 Frame options for the courses of action to address or respond to the findings of the investigation
4.2 Ensure options are provided in a form which meets the audience, requirements, can be easily understood and
enables the selection of the most appropriate course of action
4.3 Ensure the course of action selected will resolve the issues or problems recognised by the investigation and reduce the probability of recurrence
4.4 Ensure the selected course of action can be implemented in accordance with relevant national, state and industry
standards
5. Prepare and present investigation reports
5.1 Prepare investigation reports in accordance with specified standards
5.2 Present reports in a format, which ensures that findings, causes, options and courses of action can be readily
understood by audience
5.3 Present the reports, including findings and recommendations , to the required audience
5.4 Review the investigation process and pass recommendations for process changes and improvements to the appropriate authority
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Required Skills & Knowledge
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Required Skills
- apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures
- locate, interpret and apply relevant legislative and operational information
- identify and/or confirm the linkages between factors and outcomes, causes and effects and direct/indirect causal relationships
- apply technical literacy and communicate sufficiently to interpret and apply common industry terminology, and interpret work procedures and processes
- speak in plain English and communicate orally with supervisors and other employees
- question and listen actively, e.g. when obtaining information of technical working practices
- write effectively to allow report writing
- plan and organise sufficiently to prepare and apply investigative processes
- apply teamwork skills sufficient to involve and engage the employers/supervisors in the investigation processes
- solve problems to assess technical mining issues
- apply presentation skills to deliver report to various levels of industry
Required Knowledge
- legislation and regulations
- topic or subject area which is the target for the investigation
- theory of safety and health investigative research and analysis
- symptoms and possible immediate effects of post traumatic stress in an investigation situation
- appropriate industry context
- site procedures and conventions related to safety and health investigations
- site risk management processes and their applications
- conventions and requirements for written communications, including report writing
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Range Statement
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Relevant compliance documentation may include:
- legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures
- manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
- Australian standards
- code of practice
- Employment and workplace relations legislation
- Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Investigations may involve a range of issues but will generally be related to:
- accidents, incidents or near misses
- safety and health systems and issues
- safety aspects of technical processes and procedures
- safety aspects of equipment specifications and performance definition
Analysis of information may be divided into five main areas including:
- people
- environment
- equipment
- procedures
- organisation
Site security may require:
- signage
- barricades
- actions to treat and/or comfort victims and witnesses
- temporary engineering and stability measures
- security personnel
- other relevant measures
This is in order to:
- create a safe environment
- ensure the integrity of evidence
Information collection may include:
- reconstruction of events
- interviews
- statements
- audio recording
- photographs
- scale diagrams
- accessing other formal information sources
Information sources may include:
- applicable commonwealth/state/territory legislation and codes of practice relating to the industry, dangerous and hazardous goods, environmental protection and OHS
- emergency procedures
- enterprise quality assurance procedures
- manufacturer's/documentation and handbooks
- materials safety data sheets
- worksite communications, management and inventory systems
- worksite safety management systems
- worksite's rescue service publications and information
- operations manuals or equivalent
- personal and work area work procedures and practices
- quality work specifications and procedures
- workplace operating procedures and policies
Interview techniques and processes may need to be:
- managed to avoid prejudicing individual legal rights
- varied to avoid exacerbating post traumatic stress or similar symptoms for witnesses and involved parties
Recording and reporting requirements are:
- in accordance with legislative and worksite policies and procedures
Investigation report formats may be established on a site basis but are likely to include:
- objective(s)
- general overview
- research and information collection methodology
- analytical criteria
- findings (including essential and contributing factors)
- recommendations
- follow-up actions
- records of all relevant evidence
Investigation recommendations may include:
- safety management systems
- processes and procedures
- behaviours/actions
- equipment and materials
- working environment
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Evidence Guide
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
- knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for conducting safety and health investigations
- implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of safety and health investigations
- working with others to undertake and complete safety and health investigations that meets all of the required outcomes
- consistent timely completion of safety and health investigations that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes
Context of and specific resources for assessment
- This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
- The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.
- Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.
- Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.
- Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in the work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.
- Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
- Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Method of assessment
- written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge
- observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
- implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes
- consistently achieving the required outcomes
- first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
- working with others to undertake and complete safety and health investigation
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues. |
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