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  4. What Do Occupational Health Professionals Do?

What Do Occupational Health Professionals Do?

Every year far too many Australians are injured in workplace accidents, leading to millions of dollars in lost revenue and undue hardship for workers and their families. If you’d like to play a role in preventing these often avoidable situations, read on, because a career in Work Health and Safety may be the perfect fit for you.

What is Career in Work Health and Safety?

There is no more important role in any workplace than ensuring that everyone is safe, as not only will this benefit employees and their employers, but also the general public. The role of Work Health and Safety is to make sure that everything from product storage to the way machinery is used through to the office ergonomics adhere to the highest safety standards.

A Work Health and Safety Officer is responsible for creating safety policies, procedures and plans for the workplace; training relevant parties; conducting regular inspections, and ensuring that any potentially dangerous items are removed. Another core task involves supporting workers who have been injured at work and helping them transition back into the workplace.

To thrive in Work Health and Safety the following skills are vital;

  • Clear communication
  • Practical problem-solving skills
  • Effective conflict resolution
  • Creative thinking
  • A knack for diplomacy

“If you’d like to play a pivotal role in safeguarding Australian workers; the businesses they work for, as well as the general public, consider joining the ranks of Work Health and Safety.”

What Qualifications do I Need for a Career in Work, Health & Safety?

A successful career in Work Health and Safety starts with the right qualifications, as a big part of your job will involve being up to date on the latest policies, techniques, and legislation. A solid educational background will also make it easier to advance into higher-paid management positions sooner.

There is no shortage of quality courses to choose from in this safety-conscious industry, with some of the best including a Diploma in Work Health and Safety; a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, or even a Diploma of Human Resources Management.

Regardless of whether you are interested in a basic OHS course or an in-depth Diploma program, many certifications are available as online courses, and some are recognised nationwide; however, others are specific to certain areas, so choose your courses wisely.

A great way to get to know this influential industry is by familiarising yourself with the major industry bodies, particularly those associated with WorkSafe Australia – the following are a few good places to start;

  • Industrial Foundation for Accident Prevention
  • Safe Work Australia
  • Safety Institute of Australia (Responsible for OHS Certification in Australia)
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia

Where will my Career Take me?

Almost every industry in Australia is governed by strict safety regulations, which means that a graduate in Work Health and Safety can end up working in almost any sector. This is a rather lucrative profession as well, with the average salary for Work Health and Safety Officers in Australia currently hovering around $100,350.

There are now roughly 26,800 professionals employed in this vital industry throughout Australia and there is expected to be as many as 14% more by 2020 (compared with 2015). The majority of Work Health and Safety jobs can be found on Australia’s east coast, particularly in Queensland, where 27.4% of the industry’s professionals are employed.

If you’d like to play a pivotal role in safeguarding Australian workers; the businesses they work for, as well as the general public, consider joining the ranks of Work Health and Safety. Getting started is as easy as signing up for one of the many flexible and student-friendly courses available. Why not start today?