BSBWHS616 Apply safe design principles to control
WHS risks
STUDENT ASSESSMENT TASKS
Student name: Ali Raza
Student number: 20231031
Name of RTO: Campbell Institute
Trainer/Assessor:
BSBWHS616 Apply safe design principles to control WHS
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About this unit
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply safe design principles to control work
health and safety (WHS) risks in a product’s life cycle. It involves engaging at different points of the
supply chain to provide advice based on safe design principles. The central feature of safe design is the
application of relevant information and data about human experience, capabilities and behaviour to the
design of objects, facilities, procedures and environments that people use.
The unit applies to those who apply the principles of safe design in their organisation, which may be at
one or more stages of the product’s life cycle, including procurement, installation, operation and
disposal. Products may refer to plant, tools and equipment. The application of safe design principles
aims to eliminate or minimise hazards and their associated risks before an existing product, or a
product being developed or modified, is introduced into the workplace.
NOTES
1. The terms ‘occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ‘work health and safety’ (WHS) are equivalent,
and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where model WHS laws have not
been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of
competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.
2. For the purposes of this unit of competency ‘safe design’ refers to a process defined as the
integration of hazard identification and risk assessment methods to eliminate or minimise the risk of
injury throughout the life cycle of plant, tool or equipment being designed.
3. For the purposes of this unit of competency a ‘product’ refers to any plant, tool or equipment.
4. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of
Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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Student Information
Assessment
This Student Assessment Guide is designed for you to complete the assessments:
Part One: Knowledge Assessment
Part Two: Practical assessment
Part One: Knowledge Questions
Knowledge questions are designed to help you demonstrate the knowledge which you have
acquired during the learning phase of this unit. Ensure that you:
answer all questions completely and correctly
submit work that is original and, where necessary, properly referenced
avoid sharing your answers with other students.
Provide answers to all the questions below:
1. Provide an example of a Safe Work Australia Code of Practice that relates to safe
design and outline its purpose. Include the website link to the Code of Practice.
The WHS Act defines "structures," which include buildings, masts, towers, frames,
pipelines, roads, bridges, and rail infrastructure. This Code is applicable to the
design of these "structures." Any element or portion of a construction can be
referred to as underground works, such as shafts or tunnels.
Codes of Practice (no date) Codes of Practice | Safe Work Australia. Available at:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/law-and-regulation/codes-practice
2. Provide an example of Safe Work Australia guidance information that relates to
safe design and outline its purpose. Include the website link to the Guidance
Information.
Identify potential dangers and ascertain what may be harmful.
When evaluating risks, take into account the possible consequences, intensity, and
probability of happening. This phase might not be essential if the risk and controls
are properly understood.
Reduce hazards to the greatest extent that it is practically possible.
If eliminating risks is not practical, manage them by putting in place the most
effective control measures based on the hierarchy of control measures and
monitoring their efficacy over time.
Verify that control measures are operating as planned by looking at them.
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/guidanceonthe
prin ciplesofsafedesign_2006_pdf.pdf
3. Complete the following table about WHS risks and the product life cycle.
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Product life cycle stage Explain how safe design is achieved in each phase
in terms of risk control and/or implementation
Surveys, workshops, and consumer feedback are
Develop concept
all conducted. Conduct technical and market
research.
Recognizing risk, managing it, and giving
Design
instructions to ensure safe supply, manufacturing,
and design.
Documented information, including any changes
Construct/manufacture
made to the plant to reduce the risks, should be
shared with the designers.
Supplier need to communicate residual risks and
Supply/install
necessary risk control measures to ensure safety.
Ensure the product meets the designer's or
Commission/use
manufacturer's specifications, as well as any site-
specific safety requirements
Reapplying the procedures described during the
Maintain
idea and design phases is necessary when making
changes to a product.
By doing this, new risks are avoided and the
Decommission
design's current safety elements are preserved.
Instructions for securely disassembling and
Disposal/recycle
discarding items, especially those composed of
recyclable or ecologically hazardous components,
should be provided by designers to consumers
Machac, J., Steiner, F. and Tupa, J. (2017) Product life cycle risk management,
IntechOpen. Available at:
https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/55401
4. Explain why consultation is required as part of safe design and general
requirements concerning WHS consultation under WHS laws.
Safe design principle Explanation of the design principle
Person with control Who make design of Product and promote safety
Product Lifecycle Reduces and eliminate hazards in lifecycle
Systematic Risk Management Identify risk factor to achieve safe design.
Safe Design Knowledge and Who have control on design should acquire this.
Capability
Information Transfer Design documentation and communication must
be provided in an appropriate manner.
WHS duties Consultation | Safe Work Australia. Available at:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/
consultation/whs-dutiesconsultation
5. Explain why it is important to ensure that a risk control is sufficiently reliable and
robust in line with the likelihood and impact of that risk. Give an example to illustrate
your answer.
BSBWHS616 Apply safe design principles to control WHS
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Because it will guarantee that the risk control will be successful, it is crucial to make
sure that it is sufficiently robust and dependable in relation to the likelihood and
impact of that risk. While working on machine there should an emergency button to
avoid any accident.
The importance of risk control measures in the workplace (2022) AIPM. Available at:
https://aipm.com.au/blog/riskcontrol/
6. In the table below, write down three risks for a product of your choice. For each risk,
use the risk matrix at the following link to calculate the overall risk level:
Product:
Description of risk Level of risk (numbered)
Risk 1 Unsafe to use big 10
machinery
Risk 2 Working from 8
height
Risk 3 Manual handling 5
Boogaard, K. (2022) What is a risk matrix? (with example): Wrike, Blog Wrike. Available at:
https://www.wrike.com/blog/what-is-risk-matrix/
7. Explain how an adjustment to a product during its life can impact on safety and how to
address this.
A product's lifetime adjustments may have an influence on safety as they may alter the safe
design. As a result, any necessary changes to the product must take into account any
potential need for additional risk controls. Modifications made to a product over its life cycle
might be problematic for manufacturers, expensive, and even lead to the phaseout of the
product.
Consumer compliance outlook (no date) Managing Risk Throughout the Product Life Cycle -
Consumer Compliance Outlook: Second Quarter 2014. Available at:
https://www.consumercomplianceoutlook.org/2015/secondquarter/managing-risk-throughout-
product-life-cycle
8. Give an example of a failsafe action that can apply to a risk control to ensure
the chances of possible failure of the risk control.
Making sure the highest rated risk control is used whenever it is practical is an
example of a failsafe action that may be implemented to a risk control to ensure
the odds of a potential failure of the risk control.
Anjoran, R. (2023) Fail safe design principles & examples, QualityInspection.org.
Available at:
https://qualityinspection.org/fail-safe-design-principles-examples/
9. Complete the following table about internal and external sources of WHS information and
data.
Sources of information List at least two examples Explain how these sources
for each type of information of information are accessed
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I. Meeting minutes Information of project brief
Internal sources of
II. Incident reports can be assessed through
information
management Information of
reports can be assessed
through an internal system
I. Social media WHS websites provide
External sources
II. Safe work Australia access to the information
of information online for evaluation.
Publications on the website
of the WHS regulator give
opportunities for information
assessment.
Sources of WHS information (no date) Skill maker. Available at:
https://www.skillmaker.edu.au/sources-of-whsinformation/
10. Explain the terms human cognitive and perceptual capabilities and how they impact
on safe design of products.
Human cognitive and perceptual capabilities: Individuals with perceptual competence
are able to utilize their senses to organize, identify, and comprehend the information
that surrounds them. They may then react to their surroundings by using this
knowledge. One way to conceptualize perceptual capability is as a cognitive talent or
ability that helps people improve the caliber of their cognitive capacities.
The mental processes involved in memory, attention, problem-solving, and reasoning
are all included in cognitive capacity.
In order to incorporate safe design controls that are appropriate for different user
abilities, it is critical to comprehend human cognitive and perceptual capacities.
Factor Explain why this factor is important to consider
in safe design
Work-related psychosocial Should consider associated elements like stress
factors and anxiety and to make sure that they are less
likely
Occupational violence To minimize the risk of violence at work
Shift work Should consider the fact that individuals work
at various times throughout the day and that
the product might need to be adjusted
Repetitive work Ensuring safe design is crucial in mitigating the
risk of prolonged repetitive motion
Awkward postures To make sure employees are not adopting
unnatural postures when using the product
Lighting So that optimum lighting is achieved
Thermal environment In order to take into account, the workers'
comfort in terms of heat.
Job design and work layout To guarantee that the product enables the
optimal work arrangement and task design
BSBWHS616,apply safe design principles to control WHS risks, STUDENT GUIDE Learner
Workbook,
https://my.campbellinstitute.edu.au/pluginfile.php/22034/mod_resource/content/6/
BSBWHS616%20Student
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11. Explain the terms anthropometry and biomechanics and why they are important in
relation to safe design principles to control WHS risks.
It is the scientific study of human physical characteristics such as size, weight, proportion,
strength, and mobility. In contrast, the study of different body parts as they move and are
affected by internal and external forces is known as biomechanics. It makes use of engineering
ideas and the laws of physics. Anthropometry and biomechanics are significant fields of
research because safe design relies heavily on an understanding of human physical
capabilities and limits. BSBWHS616,apply safe design principles to control WHS risks, STUDENT
GUIDE Learner Workbook,
https://my.campbellinstitute.edu.au/pluginfile.php/22034/mod_resource/content/6/
BSBWHS616%20Student
12. List three communication/consultation processes and the type of personnel who could be
involved.
Communication/consultation process Personnel who would be involved (list at
least two)
Zoom Meetings Management and workers are involved
in the meeting
Safety case study Management, and safety committee
Briefing sessions Management and the suppliers
Byrne, J. (2023) WHS consultation and Communication Mechanisms, WHS
Consulting. Available at:
https://www.whsconsultinghunter.com.au/whs/whs-consultation-and-
communication-mechanisms/
13. Outline hierarchy of control measures, giving an example of why this measure
would be chosen above other for different risk controls.
Hierarchy of control measure Why would this measure be preferrable above
others
Elimination Removing the hazards entirely, alimentation the
risk at its source
Substitution It provides a safer alternative
Administration Risk reduction can be achieved through upgrading
training, changing rosters, or other administrative
actions.
personal protective equipment When reducing the risk of injury, use personal
protective equipment like gloves or goggles as a
last resort when other methods are insufficient
Isolation Structural changes can be implemented to alter
the work environment or process, thereby
disrupting the relationship between the worker
and the risk.
Digital, S. (2023) The hierarchy of Control & WHS, Conserve. Available at:
https://www.conserve.com.au/blog/thehierarchy-of-control-amp-whs
BSBWHS616 Apply safe design principles to control WHS
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14. Explain how organizational behavior and culture can impact on safe design and
the need for change.
The study of elements that affect how individuals and groups behave, think, feel,
and react to their jobs and organizations is known as organizational behavior.
Employees are more inclined to embrace change if there is a culture of creativity
and adaptation.
Malik, U. (2024) Organisational factors that influence health and safety behaviour
of workers, Occupational Health and Safety Blog.
Available at:
https://www.hseblog.com/organisational-factors-influence-health-
safetybehaviour-workers/
15. Explain WHS risk management. List three principles/practices that support a systematic
approach to WHS management.
Organizations utilize this formal procedure to identify hazards, assess, and analyses
risks, and then take the necessary steps to reduce or eliminate those risks.
Three principles /practices that support a systematic approach to WHS management
are:
1. Early identification of the risk
2. Thorough analysis of risk
3. Evaluation of risk to ensure appropriate controls are applied
WHS RISK MANAGEMENT IN FOUR STEPS (2023) my business. Available at:
https://www.mybusiness.com.au/how-we-help/be-a-better-employer/managing-risk/undertake-
whs-risk-management-with-these-four-steps
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The pages that follow from this point
will be completed by your
Assessor
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Record of Assessment
To be completed by the unit Assessor
Assessment Details
Student Name
Student Number
Unit of Competency BSBWHS616 Apply safe design principles to control WHS
risks
Assessor Name
RTO Campbell Institute
Assessor Checklist - Assessment Part 1
To be completed by the unit Assessor
Needs
Assessment Satisfactor
more
Activity y
evidence
Knowledge Assessment
Knowledge Assessment Question 1 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 2 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 3 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 4 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 5 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 6 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 7 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 8 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 9 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 10 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 11 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 12 ☐ ☐
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Needs
Assessment Satisfactor
more
Activity y
evidence
Knowledge Assessment Question 13 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 14 ☐ ☐
Knowledge Assessment Question 15 ☐ ☐
Results Record
To be completed by your Assessor
Student name:
Assessor name:
Date:
Final assessment results
Result
Task Type Satisfactor Unsatisfacto Did not
y ry submit
Assessment Task 1 Knowledge questions S U DNS
Assessment Task 2 Project Portfolio S U DNS
Overall unit results C NYC
Feedback to Student
Assessor’s signature Date signed
If a reassessment is required.
Complete this section only if reassessment is required
Reassessment due date
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After reassessment, the student is: ☐ Competent ☐ Not Yet Competent
Assessor’s signature Date signed
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