Are you looking to pursue a career in work health and safety? It’s a rewarding and varied career option, with plenty of opportunities in different roles and industries. Seek has projected a job growth in the field of 20.4% in the next 5 years.
The role of work health and safety officers is to prevent accidents and injuries happening in workplaces, ranging from construction sites, mines, to city offices. Unfortunately, there are many risks that employees and employers come across on the job. By meeting safety standards, reducing health and safety hazards, and managing training programs, these risks can be reduced and avoided. Not only can this minimise accidents and injuries, it can save lives.
Working in health and safety presents great career prospects, as well as opportunities to advance and develop your skills.
So, what do you need to work in WHS?
What qualifications do I need to be a WHS officer?
The first and most important thing to becoming a WHS officer (or WHSO) is to get qualified. This will give you the key skills involved in workplace health, as well as give you the necessary certification to work in the field.
There are a number of WHS courses, from Certificate IV to Diploma, so you will need to decide which is right for you and your experience level.
The WorkSafe Queensland approved work health and safety officer course is the BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety. This will give you the formal certification you need to work in the field. As noted by WorkSafe, registered training organisations (RTOs) are authorised by WHSQ to deliver this training and issue certificates of authority to people who successfully complete the course.
If you are looking to further advance your skills or knowledge, there are other training options available, such as Diploma of Work Health and Safety courses and Advanced Diplomas. These courses can help you to advance your career and increase your responsibilities as a WHSO.
Why are WHS officers important?
WHSO’s work in a variety of industries and environments, from on-site in construction and mining, in offices and retail stores, and in manufacturing and healthcare settings. This means that they require a versatile set of skills and a strong understanding of safe working laws and compliance standards.
There are work health and safety laws that apply to every place of work in Queensland, and similar laws in every state and territory in Australia. It’s up to business owners and operators to keep their workplaces up to standard. This is why WHSO are essential for all workplaces; they ensure everyone is safe, from employees to customers. To do this, they assess workplace risks, compliance with current laws and regulations, safe working methods, and handle any issues or accidents that may arise.
Our work health and safety courses
We offer the below courses in WHS, with all available through Recognition of Prior Learning:
BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety – This qualification is suitable for people working in a WHS role who work to provide leadership and guidance to others. The qualification is perfect for workers who apply a broad knowledge base and well developed skills in a wide variety of contexts and may include coordinators, advisors and facilitators.
BSB51319 Diploma of Work Health and Safety – The Diploma is suitable for people who coordinate and maintain the Work Health and Safety program in an organisation. It’s perfect for practitioners who apply a substantial knowledge base and well-developed skills in a wide variety of WHS contexts.
BSB60619 Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety – This qualification is suitable for people who apply advanced practical knowledge to coordinate, facilitate and maintain the WHS program in one or more fields of work in an organisation, such as a WHS practitioner or HR practitioner.
If you’re not sure which qualification is right for you or need some assistance enrolling, talk to our team today.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
All of our WHS courses are also available to be taken through RPL. This process converts the existing skills, knowledge, and experiences you have gained through prior work or study, into formal competencies. Not only does this set you up to advance your career, it also allows you to achieve nationally recognised qualifications without wasting time studying things that you already know.
To gain WHS qualifications this way, all you need to do is provide evidence of the relevant knowledge and skills that you have attained through previous work. However, if there are gaps in your knowledge or deficiencies in your skill level, you can complete our online training to meet the requirements of your qualification.
RPL is the perfect way to fast-track your qualifications and stay up-to-date with your WHS training.
If you’d like to learn more about our courses or the RPL process, call us today on 1300 99 6732.
