Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.
| Job Prospects | Good; employment for this occupation is expected to be average to 2011. |
|---|---|
| Salary Range | $40,000 to $60,000 plus |
| Brief | In 2000, there was more than 200 workplace accidents, 16 of which were fatal and investigated by occupational heath and safety inspectors. There are currently around 1,330 occupational and environmental health professionals employed in South Australia. Employment is largely full-time and most work in the government administration and defence, health and community services and manufacturing industries. Half of persons in this occupation are male and most are employed in the Adelaide metropolitan area. This occupation has an older age profile with close to half of those employed aged 45 years or older. |
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TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for:
Occupational Health & Safety Professional
Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety
Certificate IV in Occupational Health and Safety
Introduction
Occupational health and safety laws aim to make workplaces safer, eliminate fatalities and prevent worker injury and disease. Unfortunately, complaints and accidents, sometimes fatal, occur in the workplace and need to be investigated by occupational health and safety inspectors. It's also their duty to advise workers and employers on safety in the workplace, and to ensure that safety and health rules are adhered to.
Some occupational health and safety inspectors, who are employed are legally entitled to enter a workplace at any time to ensure that a minimum standard of health and safety is maintained in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 1984.
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Education Requirements
Of those currently employed 29% have completed Bachelor Degrees; 20% have Certificate III or CIV; 15% have an Advanced Diploma or Diploma; and 13% have a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate. With the increasing difficulty for some to find work, the education and training provided by TAFE SA gives prospective employees a definite advantage when applying for jobs.
TAFE SA offers the following courses to help you find employment in this occupation: Certificate III in Occupational Health & Safety; Certificate IV in Occupational Health & Safety; and the Diploma of Occupational Health & Safety. For further information about these courses please check the TAFE SA website, www.tafe.sa.edu.au. Still Unsure! Then contact the TAFE SA Information Line on 1800 882 661 to enquire about the availability of related short courses.
Flinders University offers a Bachelor of Health Science degree.
The University of Adelaide also offers a Bachelor of Health Science degree as well as a Graduate Diploma or a Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety Management - Adelaide Uni
The University of South Australia offers the following post graduate courses: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or a Master of Occupational Health and Safety Management.
Career Path
Employment opportunities have largely been dependent on staff vacating their positions. The low job turnover experienced in this occupation means that the demand has been low. However, an industry professional says that a large percentage of the people currently employed as inspectors are part of an ageing population, and over the next few years, employment prospects will improve.
Occupational Health and Safety officers are also being employed in a wide variety of industries. Positions are now becoming available in management consultancies and large commercial institutions, such as banks, hospitals, insurance companies, government organisations and service-based organisations.
They can also be self-employed and acts as consultant to firms and companies.
Industry
Health and Community Services
Interview
To be added.
Nature of the Job
When an accident occurs in the workplace, or reports of unacceptable workplace practices are lodged, or investigations have been instigated by health and safety inspectors, there are some typical tasks carried out. These include: inspecting machines and other equipment in the workplace; checking that safety and health legislation has been implemented; ensuring that protective equipment is used in workplaces where this is required; and writing accident or workplace practice reports. These occasions also provide a good opportunity for occupational health and safety inspectors to advise people about how to improve safety in the workplace.
In some instances, inspectors may have to issue a court summons to employers who have clearly breached occupational health and safety standards. As a result, inspectors may have to appear in Court as witnesses.
An investigation may also be undertaken if a safety and health issue cannot be resolved between an employer and employee, or to check whether changes have been instigated at a workplace that has already been investigated.
Typical Physical Working Environment
One investigator says that excellent observation, analytical and interpersonal skills are important in this line of work. They were attracted to the occupation because they felt, and still feel strongly about improving people's safety. 'There's an assumption that you'll go to work in the morning and come home in the evening, and it's just not always the case. One person's injury or death affects so many other people. If I can prevent one injury, that means a great deal to me.' As in most other occupations, good computing skills are also essential for inspectors as they are responsible for a significant amount of data processing, word processing and Internet research.
Typical Occupational Example
The majority of an occupational health and safety inspector's work is conducted outdoors mostly at industrial or construction sites. They also carry out inspections in offices, factories, warehouses, hospitals, farms, schools, forests, aircraft and on boats - any place where employees or self employed persons work. An inspector's work hours tend to be from 8am to 5pm. Weekend and evening work may be required if an accident or emergency occurs during these times. It's not uncommon for inspectors to have to travel throughout the State conducting investigations.
For further information, contact:
National Safety Council of Australia (SA)
116 Botting St Albert Park SA 5014
Ph: (08) 8234 3034
Fax: (08) 8234 3035
Email: sasafe@nsca.org.au
Website: www.nsca.org.au
WorkCover Corporation South Australia
GPO Box 2668 Adelaide SA 5001
Ph: (08) 8233 2222 or 13 18 55 (Toll Free)
Fax: (08) 8233 2990
Website: www.workcover.com
Earning Potential
Recently qualified safety inspectors earn about $40,000 per year. More experienced inspectors can earn more than $60,000.
Further Information
For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or email tafeinfo@saugov.sa.gov.au
This Career Profile information was last modified: 7/11/2007 11:32:09 AM
The information was accurate at the time of publication. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to make any changes necessary
