Develop and maintain a healthy and safe work environment for scientific or technical activities
Overview
This standard covers the competence you will need to
develop and maintain a healthy and safe work environment
for scientific or technical activities in accordance with
approved procedures and practices.
You will be required to demonstrate that you can adhere to
health and safety regulations and guidelines relevant to
your area of responsibility. You will ensure that the
appropriate people are informed about their duties and
obligations relating to all relevant health and safety
regulations and guidelines in accordance with workplace
procedures.
The activity is likely to be undertaken by someone in a
science related work setting, including individuals working
in hospitals, scientific laboratories, schools and universities.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 ensure that your work is carried out in accordance with
standard operating procedures
P2 use the appropriate personal protection equipment
(PPE) where scientific or technical activities are performed
P3 identify the health and safety regulations and guidelines
relevant to your area of responsibility
P4 ensure that the appropriate people are informed about
their duties and obligations relating to all relevant health
and safety regulations and guidelines
P5 provide support to the appropriate people to enable
them to work in a healthy, safe and productive way
P6 ensure that the work environment under your
responsibility conforms to organisational and legal health
and safety
P7 monitor scientific or technical activities and rectify
breaches in health and safety requirements promptly in
accordance with organisational procedures
P8 record information regarding health and safety and the
work environment in the appropriate workplace information
system
P9 present the results of the work done to the appropriate
people, in accordance with departmental and organisational
procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the health and safety requirements of the area in which
you are carrying out the scientific or technical activities
K2 the implications of not taking account of legislation,
regulations, standards and guidelines when conducting
scientific or technical activities.
K3 the workplace procedures, as set down in local
operating manuals and schemes of work
K4 the importance of following manufacturers' instructions
K5 the range of techniques and processes that you have to
use correctly in the workplace
K6 the importance of wearing protective clothing, gloves
and eye protection for scientific or technical activities
K7 the specific safety precautions to be taken when
working with equipment and computer-based systems
K8 the identity of health and safety representatives
K9 the location and correct use of emergency equipment
K10 the types of handling and sorting system used to
process orders or requests
K11 the organisational requirements for maintaining the
security of the workplace and confidential information
K12 the lines of communication and responsibilities in your
department, and the links with the rest of the organisation
K13 the limits of your own authority and to whom you
should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
K14 the roles and responsibilities of yourself and others
K15 the principles and practice of risk assessment, and
how to ensure that the work environment is effectively
monitored
K16 how to assess current working conditions and identify
possible areas for improvement
K17 how to communicate effectively with team members,
colleagues, line managers and people outside your
organisation
K18 the organisational and legal requirements for
maintaining a healthy, safe work environment
K19 the codes of practice relevant to developing and
maintaining a healthy, safe work environment
K20 the types of support that it may be necessary to
provide on health and safety issues, and how to provide
such support
K21 how to respond to contradictions between health and
safety requirements and organisational constraints
K22 the organisational procedures for recommending
improvements to the work environment
K23 the records that must be kept, and the organisational
and legislative requirements for doing so
K24 the control of substances hazardous to health
(COSHH) regulations, and their application in the workplace
K25 the types of hazards which may be present in the
workplace, and how these can be minimised
K26 the correct storage and disposal procedures for
hazardous material and equipment
K27 the correct procedures for the storage, transport and
disposal of waste
Scope/range
- inform your people of their health and safety duties and
responsibilities using:
1.1 verbal instructions plus two methods from the following:
1.2 electronic mail
1.3 written instructions/documents
1.4 computer-based presentations
1.5 training sessions
1.6 health and safety meetings
1.7 video/photographic media - carry out audits/inspection of the work environment that
include all of the following:
2.1 physical environment
2.2 equipment
2.3 materials
2.4 working procedures - discuss and resolve health and safety issues with two of
the following:
3.1 team members
3.2 peer group
3.3 senior managers
3.4 external contacts - record and communicate details of the work done, to the
appropriate people, using:
4.1 verbal report plus one method from the following:
4.2 written or typed report
4.3 computer-based record
4.4 specific workplace documentation
4.5 electronic mail