WHS Officer

What does a WHS Officer do?

WHS Officers assist with ensuring that employees are operating within a safe, WHS-compliant environment. 

Read more about the WHS industry.

What are the key skills of a WHS Officer?

WHS officers observe, assess, and report on the safety performance of a workplace, and assist with developing procedures that meet safety guidelines.

• A sound knowledge of all the jobs they observe within the organisation
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, to document and deliver content to employees
• Keen observation skills to monitor the safety performance of a workplace and identify risks or hazards
• Strong problem-solving skills to suggest necessary changes to unsafe work conditions
• Excellent organisational skills for all documentation related to workplace compliance and WHS program to educate employees
• A strong work ethic and ability to communicate and collaborate with others

How to become a WHS Officer

If you want to become a WHS Officer, you'll typically need a certification in Work Health and Safety to ensure that you're certified in carrying out your responsibilities at a business or organisation. It's also expected that you build relevant experience in the WHS industry and renew your certification annually to continue practicing as a WHS Officer.

We recommend studying a BSB41419 - Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety so that you can build your skills in the field, including how to respond to critical incidents and undertake workplace monitoring.

If you're keen to advance your skills, studying a BSB51315 - Diploma of Work Health and Safety may be beneficial as you build your career in WHS.