Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assist with managing the WHS implications of activities that facilitate an injured worker’s return to work. It involves identifying those with roles, duties, rights and responsibilities for return to-work, as well as assisting in preparing, implementing and evaluating the return to work.

The unit applies to those in an organisation who assist with the WHS implications of return-to-work activities. In many organisations, this role will be performed alongside others from within the organisation or external parties, including those working in human resources, workers’ compensation, workplace rehabilitation, other professional and administrative capacities, and other roles relating to return to work.

NOTES

1. The unit does not in any way address the process of treating workers for their injury or illness, which is the task of health and medical professionals.

2. Workers’ compensation legislation and associated duties will differ between jurisdictions. RTOs are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to the requirements of existing state/territory workers’ compensation legislation.

3. 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.

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.

Unit mapping information

Supersedes and is equivalent to BSBWHS407 Assist with claims management, rehabilitation and return-to-work programs.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Foundation skills

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Unit sector or competency field

Regulation, Licensing and Risk—Work Health and Safety

Prerequisite, co-requisite or interdependent assessment of units

Not applicable

Assessment conditions

Assessment must comply with WHS and workers’ compensation laws, legal responsibilities and duty of care required for this unit. It must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities undertaken by individuals carrying out WHS duties in the workplace, and must include access to:

• workplace documentation and WHS data required to demonstrate the performance evidence

• legislation required to assist with managing WHS implications of return to work

• organisational policies and procedures required to demonstrate the performance evidence

• workplace equipment and resources

• case studies and, where possible, real situations

• opportunities for interaction with others

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the assessor requirements in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.