Ensure Responsibility for Actions to Reduce Risks to Health and Safety

What Does This Unit Mean?

This unit is about recognising health and safety hazards and risks, taking appropriate action within your level of responsibility and ensuring that concerns are reported to the appropriate people.

The unit also requires learners to understand their own responsibilities, recognise the limits of their competence, support workplace welfare arrangements and communicate health and safety information effectively.

In simple terms, this unit is asking: “Can you recognise health and safety issues, take appropriate action, work within your level of competence and communicate health and safety information effectively?”

What Competence Does This Unit Require?

You are expected to demonstrate that you can:

• Follow workplace health and safety instructions and procedures.
• Identify hazards and risks that may not be covered by existing risk assessments.
• Report health and safety concerns through the correct channels.
• Work within your level of competence.
• Recognise when additional support or advice is required.
• Contribute to improving health and safety performance.
• Understand the needs of vulnerable persons.
• Support workplace welfare arrangements.
• Communicate health and safety information effectively.
• Promote compliance with health and safety requirements.

The focus is not on managing the entire health and safety system.

The focus is on demonstrating that you can identify issues, take appropriate action and fulfil your own health and safety responsibilities.

Evidence Requirements: Unit 02

1. How do you identify workplace instructions and practices relevant to your role?

   Maps to AC 1.1

   Evidence Examples:

   • A signed induction record, training record, safe system of work, method statement, risk assessment or procedure relevant to your work activities.
   • Evidence showing that you understand and follow the instructions applicable to your role.

2. How do you report hazards, concerns, recurring issues or inconsistencies?

   Maps to AC 1.2

   Evidence Examples:

   • A hazard report, near miss report, inspection record, email or other communication showing that you reported a health and safety concern, recurring issue or inconsistency in workplace processes.
   • Evidence showing that the concern was communicated to the correct person, such as your supervisor, manager or health and safety advisor.

3. How do you ensure that you work within your level of competence?

   Maps to AC 2.1

   Evidence Examples:

   • Training records, competency records, qualification certificates or authorisation records relevant to your role.
   • Evidence showing that you only carry out activities for which you have been trained, authorised or deemed competent.

4. How do you recognise and manage the limits of your own competence?

   Maps to AC 2.2

   Evidence Examples:

   • An appraisal record, training needs analysis, supervision record or personal development record identifying competence limitations or development needs through self-assessment or appraisal.
   • Evidence showing that additional training, support or supervision was requested or provided where necessary.

5. How do you set and work towards personal health and safety goals?

   Maps to AC 2.3

   Evidence Examples:

   • A personal development plan, appraisal record, performance review or agreed objective setting document showing goals acknowledged within the organisation.
   • Evidence showing progress towards achieving the agreed goals.

6. How do you identify and support vulnerable persons in the workplace?

   Maps to AC 3.2

   Evidence Examples:

   • A risk assessment, personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP), occupational health recommendation, workplace adjustment record or similar document identifying additional requirements for vulnerable persons.
   • Evidence showing that appropriate arrangements were determined and implemented.

7. How do you monitor the effectiveness of welfare and support arrangements?

   Maps to AC 3.3

   Evidence Examples:

   • Workplace inspection records, welfare inspections, employee feedback, audit findings or review records showing monitoring against relevant policies and controls.
   • Evidence showing that any changes or concerns were reported and improvements were made where necessary.

8. How do you report differences between policy requirements and actual workplace conditions?

   Maps to AC 3.4

   Evidence Examples:

   • A hazard report, inspection report, audit finding, non-conformance report, email or meeting minutes identifying a difference between policy and actual provision.
   • Evidence showing that the issue was reported in line with business strategy and that the benefits of improved occupational safety and health were promoted, such as a recommendation, briefing or improvement proposal.