Courses » Workplace Health & Saftey Officer
  


 

Functioning as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer
(WHSO)

 

What is a Workplace Health & Safety Officer

The Workplace Health & Safety Act 1995 defines a Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSO) as a person who:

  • holds a current authority for appointment as a workplace health and safety officer. 


The Workplace Health and Safety officer is appointed by:

  • an employer for the employer's workplace or
  • a principal contractor

When must a Workplace Health and Safety Officer be appointed?

Employers with 30 or more workers are required by law to appoint a WHSO to help eliminate
health and safety risks.


What are the duties of a Workplace Health and Safety Officer?

Workplace Health and Safety Officers provide expert advice to employers to help them meet
 their obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act such as

  • Advising the employer or principal contractor on health and safety issues.
  • Ensuring all work injuries, work caused illnesses or dangerous events at the workplace are investigated.
  • Conducting appropriate health and safety education programs.
  • Other functions, which are stated in Section 96 of the Workplace Health  and Safety Act 1995.

 


Course outline

The WHSO training is divided into two stages:

  • The Core Module (WHSO/01), which must be completed by persons from all industry groups; and
  • And industry specific Elective Module: Construction (WHSO/02), Industrial (WHSO/03) or Services (WHSO/04)

Course duration 

WHSO Core         5 days.

Electives        

Construction         4 days.
Industrial               3 days.
Services                2 days.

Course times

8.30am - 4pm. 

Course outcome

Successful applicants will receive a "Statement of Attainment" for the course in Functioning as
a Workplace Health and Safety Officer - Units- WHSO/01 issued by OHSA plus the
completed elective.

Participants will also receive an Assessment Report (Division of Workplace Health and Safety)

Validation:

As a WHSO your qualification is valid for 5 years. (After 5 years you will need to complete
a recertification course to keep the qualification current.)




Workplace Health and Safety Officer Recertification Course

This course is mandatory recertification course for all Workplace Health and Safety Officers (WH&SO) after 5 years. The course is only for existing WH&SO's that are continuing their appointment. To be eligible to apply for a certificate of authority of appointment of a workplace health and safety officer, the learner must have achieved competency in the WHSO Recertification unit of competence, including completion of a Workplace Health and Safety Assessment and Action Plan. The Workplace Health and Safety Assessment and Action Plan must be completed and submitted within a reasonable time negotiated between the trainer and learner (this period must not exceed 8 weeks).

Course Content

The course includes changes to the legislation, practices & procedures over the previous five years, and provide an overview of current WH&SO Core Modules and the Electives.

Course outcome

Successful applicants receive an Assessment Report and Statement of Attainment.

Lodging the Application

Applicants should complete and sign the application declaration (Item12) on the Assessment Report.Submit the original copies (white copies) of both assessment report with the payment to a Workplace Health and Safety office within 3 months of the date of the Assessment report.