Required skills
analytical skills to read and interpret relevant workplace information and data
communication skills to:
conduct effective formal and informal meetings and communicate effectively with personnel at all levels of the organisation, and with external parties and individuals
use language appropriate to the work team and the task
consultation and negotiation skills to:
develop plans
implement and monitor designated actions
information technology skills to:
access and download internal and external information and data on WHS
use a range of communication media
literacy skills to write policies, procedures and plans
numeracy skills to:
analyse workplace information and data
carry out calculations
identify trends
organisational skills to manage own tasks within a timeframe
project-management skills to:
achieve continuous improvement
action processes about WHS matters
research skills to:
access relevant WHS information and data
identify areas for improvement
interpret information and data.
Required knowledge
difference between hazard and risk
formal and informal communication and consultation processes, and key personnel related to communication
how the characteristics and composition of the workforce impact on WHS risk and the management of WHS, including:
communication skills
cultural background and diversity
gender
labour market changes
language, literacy and numeracy levels of the workforce
structure and organisation of the workforce, including part time, casual and contract workers; shift rosters; and geographical location
workers with specific needs and limitations
workplace culture towards alcohol and other drug use
internal and external sources of WHS information and data, and how to access them
limitations of generic hazard identification and risk assessment checklists, and risk ranking processes
nature of workplace processes (work flow, planning and control) and hazards relevant to the workplace
organisational behaviour and culture as they impact on WHS and on change
organisational culture as it impacts on the work team
organisational WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems
other functional areas that impact on the management of WHS
pertinent sections of relevant Australian standards and publications, including:
AS/NZS ISO 31000–2009 Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines
Standards Australia publication HB 327:2010 Communicating and consulting about risk (Companion to AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009)
Standards Australia publication HB 158-2010 Delivering assurance based on ISO 31000:2009 – Risk management – Principles and guidelines
principles and practices of a systematic approach to managing WHS
principles of duty of care, including concepts of causation, foreseeability and preventability
principles of incident causation and injury processes
range of risk analysis and assessment techniques and tools, and their application and limitations
relevant commonwealth and state or territory WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice, standards and guidance material, and other relevant publications, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
risk as the effect of uncertainty on objectives
risk management as a duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings (PCBUs) or their officers under WHS legislation
roles and responsibilities of individuals and parties under WHS legislation
sources of occupational disease and their prevention
standard industry controls for a range of hazards
techniques, tools and processes for identifying and controlling health and safety hazards and risks, including:
hazard and risk checklists
hazard hunts
job safety analyses
manifests and registers, including for dangerous goods, hazardous chemicals and plant
safe work method statements
surveys using questionnaires, interviews and other survey techniques
workplace inspections and walk throughs
toxicology of hazardous chemicals and potential health effects in the workplace.