QLD White Card - Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry

CPCCWHS1001

Course Description

This unit of competency specifies the mandatory work health and safety training required prior to undertaking construction work. The unit requires the person to demonstrate personal awareness and knowledge of health and safety legislative requirements in order to work safely and prevent injury or harm to self and others. It covers identifying and orally reporting common construction hazards, understanding basic risk control measures, and identifying procedures for responding to potential incidents and emergencies. It also covers correctly selecting and fitting common personal protective equipment (PPE) used for construction work.

This unit meets the general construction induction training requirements of:

Part 1.1 Definitions and Part 6.5 of the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations;

Division 11 of Part 3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 for Western Australia; and

Division 3 of Part 5.1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 for Victoria.

It is expected that site-specific induction training will be conducted prior to conducting construction work.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit. Relevant work health and safety state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm jurisdictional requirements.

This course establishes the mandatory work health and safety training that is required prior to undertaking work in the construction industry.

As a part of the training, you will be required to demonstrate personal awareness and knowledge of health and safety legislative requirements in order to work safely and prevent injury or harm to self and others. It covers identifying and orally reporting common construction hazards, understanding basic risk control measures, and identifying procedures for responding to potential incidents and emergencies. It also covers correctly selecting and fitting common personal protective equipment (PPE) used for construction work.

A White Card is a mandatory requirement for workers who are employed in the construction sector across all states and territories in Australia. It is a hazardous and high-risk industry where every day presents new challenges as a project progresses from inception to completion.

Who is this course for?

Anyone who works in, or is looking to work in the construction industry.

How is the course delivered?

Face-to-face, classroom setting. Minimum of 6 hours duration.

Are there any prerequisites?

No. However students must be at least 14 years of age to enrol and complete this course.

How will I be assessed?

Performance Evidence

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills, and range of conditions of this unit, in addition to the specific performance and knowledge evidence described below.

The person must:

  • identify and orally report two construction hazards
  • orally explain how risk could be reduced or removed in relation to those two hazards
  • select appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to control the risk
  • orally explain basic procedures for responding to incidents and emergencies, including types and purpose of the following fire safety equipment:
    • fire blankets
    • fire extinguishers, including water, carbon dioxide, powder and foam
    • hose reels and mains
  • identify and orally explain the meaning of required safety signs and symbols
  • orally explain the purpose of job safety analyses (JSAs), safe work method statements (SWMS) and safety data sheets (SDS)
  • orally explain the roles of the following designated health and safety personnel:
    • first aid officers
    • work health and safety representatives
    • work health and safety committee members
    • supervisors.

The person must also demonstrate correctly fitting to themselves the PPE listed below:

  • eye protection
  • hearing protection
  • hard hat
  • high visibility retro reflective vest.

Knowledge Evidence

A person must demonstrate knowledge of:

  • basic duty of care, and the roles, rights and responsibilities of business owners and workers in relation to working safely while undertaking construction work
  • basic meaning of the terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’
  • basic principles of risk management, including the following five steps in order:
    • identify hazard
    • assess risk
    • consult and report
    • control hazard
    • review
  • basic procedures for accessing first aid
  • construction hazards, including those relating to:
    • asbestos
    • confined spaces
    • electrical: power lines, cords and equipment
    • excavations and trenches, including underground services
    • dust
    • falling objects
    • hazardous substances and dangerous goods
    • hot and cold work environments
    • manual handling
    • noise
    • plant and equipment operation
    • traffic and mobile plant
    • unplanned collapse
    • ultraviolet radiation
    • working at heights, including scaffolding
  • construction work that requires a high risk work licence
  • types, purpose and use of PPE used in construction, as specified in the performance evidence, and including safety footwear, harnesses and respiratory protection, and ultraviolet (UV) protective clothing and sunscreen
  • construction emergencies, including:
    • chemical spill
    • fire
    • injury to personnel
    • structural collapse
    • toxic or flammable vapour emission
    • vehicle or mobile plant accident
  • construction incidents, including:
    • incidents resulting in personal injury or damage to property
    • near misses or dangerous occurrences that do not cause injury but may pose an immediate and significant risk to persons or property, and need to be reported so that action can be taken to prevent recurrence
  • safe work practices that should be followed in construction work, including:
    • accessing and using site amenities for drinking water, hand washing and toilets
    • following safety procedures when performing work tasks and using equipment
    • identifying and reporting hazards, incidents and injuries in the workplace
    • keeping the work area clean, tidy and free from debris
    • not using or being affected by drugs and/or alcohol while at work
    • preventing bullying and harassment in the workplace
    • selecting and using required PPE
    • smoking only in designated areas
    • storing and removing waste and debris in designated areas
  • meanings and symbols associated with construction safety signs, symbols and tags, including:
    • emergency information signs: exits, emergency equipment and first aid
    • fire signs: location of fire alarms and firefighting equipment
    • hazard signs and symbols: danger and warning
    • regulatory signs and symbols: prohibition, mandatory and limitation or restriction
    • safety and lockout tags: danger and out-of-service tags.

This course requires you to demonstrate competency by completing both theory and practical assessments.

Course outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be issued with a Statement of Attainment for CPCCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry and a laminated QLD White Card.

Downloads

Course dates and enrolment

For course dates and enrolment information, please contact us here.

Frequently asked questions

Whilst there are many providers offering the current unit of competency online, regulators do not like it and are trying their best to close RTO’s who offer this course online. Generally the proliferation of cheap online, mostly non-compliant courses has caused the industry to race to the bottom on price which of course makes it hard for quality face-to-face providers to compete.

Once the transition to the new competency completes at the end of 2017, the new performance criteria of direct observations will make it difficult to complete the training without some face to face participation.

Construction sites are dangerous places. There are risks that can result in serious injury or even death, if health and safety procedures are not followed correctly.

So before you step onto a construction site, you need to know what you can and can’t do. A white card ensures that you have the correct training and knowledge about safety operations on site. A white card is your guarantee to the site manager, contractors and the construction company that you know what you’re doing.

It is compulsory in Australia to obtain a white card before entering a construction site. In fact, the majority of construction sites in Australia will refuse you entry unless you have your white card. Each state and territory has a code of practice listed on their relevant workplace health and safety regulatory bodies website.

A white card is not simply about obtaining a piece of paper that says “I can work here”. It’s an assurance that you have obtained a white card for not only your own safety but for your work colleagues safety as well. Accidents occur on construction sites daily in Australia, and they are high-risk workplaces so being responsible and understanding safety operations is the number one priority. Without it legal penalties apply, which can result in the company that’s employed you getting a hefty fine of up to $11,000. If you are a member of a union or wish to join one, it is also compulsory to have a white card.