An employer must appoint a qualified person as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSO) if 30 or more workers are normally employed at the Workplace. A Principal Contractor (PC) must appoint a WHSO if thirty or more persons work at a workplace during any 24 hour period or if the PC has built more than 30 domestic premises during the previous years. This course is also suitable for supervisors and managers who have a responsibility for the safety of workers.

Now

Gold Coast
Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
Rockhampton
Mackay
Townsville

Later

Gladstone
Cairns
Mt Isa

• Referencing and understanding the Queensland Government's current Workplace Health and Safety Legislation and Standards and related material;
• Assisting Queensland Government workplace health and safety officials;
• Preparing workplace health and safety reports;
• Establishing appropriate educational programs;
• Investigating work injuries, work caused illnesses and dangerous events;
• Consulting with workers, employers and statutory bodies.

• WHSO/01 Provide advice on Workplace Health and Safety

• WHSO/02 Manage Health and Safety Hazards and risks

• WHSO/03 Manage Workplace Incidents

• To tell the employer or principal contractor about the overall state of health and safety at the workplace;
• To conduct inspections at the workplace to identify any hazards and unsafe or unsatisfactory workplace health and safety conditions and practice;
• To report to the employer or principal contractor any hazard or unsafe or unsatisfactory workplace health and safety practice identified during inspections;
• To establish appropriate educational programs in workplace health and safety;
• To investigate, or assist in the investigation of, all work injuries, work caused illnesses and dangerous events at the workplace;
• To help inspectors in the performance of the inspectors’ duties;
• If any work injury, work caused illness, dangerous event or immediate risk to workplace health and safety at the workplace happens - to report the injury, illness, event or risk to the employer or principal contractor;
• Another function prescribed under a regulation.

This course has both theoretical and practical components, and is conducted in accordance with criteria set by the Division of Workplace Health and Safety.

Functioning as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer – Core Modules must be successfully completed before a participant can progress to the appropriate Elective Modules for their industry.

Award Participants who demonstrate competency by achieving a 75% pass mark, or more, for a theory examination will receive a Division of Training and Industrial Relations Assessment Report.

Time restrictions apply upon completion of Functioning as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer – Core Modules. Individuals must complete an industry specific Elective within six (6) months in order to gain their Workplace Health and Safety Officer certification.

There are no restrictions on entry to this course however participants are required to have sufficient numeracy and literacy skills to read and comprehend instruction for:

• Referencing and understanding legislation, standards and codes of practice;
• Assisting Qld State Government health and safety officials;
• Preparing workplace health and safety reports;
• Establishing appropriate educational programs;
• Investigating work injuries, work caused illnesses and dangerous events;
• Consulting with workers, employers and statutory health and safety officials.

This course is a prerequisite for WHSO/04 (Construction), WHSO/05 (Industrial) and WHSO/06 (Service).