safety officer job description

Some of the daily tasks of safety officers include: identifying hazards at the workplace: as a safety officer, you assess hazards at the workplace. You review company processes, identify potential hazards and put control measures in place to minimise accidents. You record and document potential hazards, control measures and risks in the business. During assessments, you also check the handling, storage and disposal of dangerous materials or waste. supervising employees: as a safety officer, you ensure employees understand the company's safety protocols and adhere to them. You regularly conduct routine inspections to observe whether workers are following safety procedures. You also conduct safety checks on the equipment and set up first-aid procedures. training employees: as a safety officer, you ensure employees know the health and safety standards. That involves training employees on occupational health and safety. You develop training programs suitable to the industry you work in. For instance, you conduct face-to-face or online training. When the company hires new employees, you are part of the onboarding team to ensure they are trained on safety-related issues. creating a safe work environment: aside from training workers, you also ensure the company has safe working environments. For instance, you make sure the employees have the necessary equipment, such as protective clothing for operating machinery or equipment. investigating workplace accidents: as a safety officer, you investigate incidents that happen at the workplace. You determine the causes of incidents or injuries and recommend ways to prevent future accidents. If the accidents or injuries are beyond your scope, you escalate them to the relevant authorities for further action. reviewing policies: as a safety officer, you review policies associated with occupational health and safety. You liaise with employees to understand safety concerns and find ways to implement new procedures.

Many organisations recruit safety officers in the workplace to prevent injuries and accidents. You may work in manufacturing, construction, mining, healthcare, government or service-based organisations. As a safety officer, you work in various settings, like construction sites, government buildings and offices. When you work in the office, you review the safety policies and recommend areas of improvement. During inspections, you work offsite to inspect factories, construction sites and mining facilities.

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include operations managers , site managers and production workers . You might also work in close proximity to plant operators and mechanical fitters , as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, mechanical engineers , factory workers and site administrators.

The typical work schedule of a safety officer is 40 hours a week in a full-time position. You work Monday to Friday during traditional business hours. Sometimes, you work evenings to handle emergencies and deal with incidents that occur outside business hours. While safety officers work in manufacturing with 24/7 production cycles, they don't work in shifts since site inspections are not done daily.

As a safety officer, you have extensive knowledge of workplace health and safety. There is a high demand for the role, with job openings expected to increase by 5.4% in the next five years. You can specialise in various areas associated with workplace health and safety. For instance, specialise in becoming a safety trainer and assessor, risks and hazards assessor, or occupational health and safety trainer. Some safety officers also work as workplace health and safety auditors or industrial or occupational hygienists.

advantages of finding a safety officer job through randstad

Finding your safety officer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as: a wide variety of training and development opportunities an experienced contact person to provide help if needed a range of opportunities in your area get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job temporary and permanent contracts Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a safety officer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

are safety officers in demand in Australia?

The demand for safety officers is increasing since many industries are concerned with the safety of employees. The job growth rate for the role is 5.4% in the next five years. Besides, you can work in diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing and mining.

what qualifications are required for safety officers in Australia?

You require specific educational qualifications and certifications to work as a safety officer in Australia. Complete a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety to gain relevant skills for the role. You can also start with a diploma in work health and safety. Most employers will require certification from the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS).

how much do safety officers earn in Australia?

As a safety officer, you earn an average remuneration package of $95,000 per year. When you are new in the role, you take home a salary of $85,000 annually, while the most experienced safety officers earn over $105,000 per year.

what is your duty as a safety officer?

As a safety officer, you ensure the work environment is safe for employees. You formulate the work health safety policies and ensure the implementation of safety procedures. You also train employees to stay safe and make sure they have protective equipment to prevent accidents or injuries.

is safety officer a good career in Australia?

Working as a safety officer allows you to build your knowledge in work safety and gain experience to specialise in other roles. The remuneration package and job growth prospects for safety officers are also promising.

how do I apply for a safety officer vacancy?

Applying for a safety officer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here .

safety officer

what is a safety officer?

As a safety officer, you maintain safety at the workplace by implementing various safety measures. You define protocols and work procedures to ensure a job site is a safe place to work. You ensure the company upholds the policies since you understand the workplace's health and safety requirements. That involves conducting audits and routine workplace inspections to check for potential hazards. The inspections help you monitor if the employees are following safety procedures. You are also responsible for training employees on all company safety requirements. Training workers helps prevent accidents that could be avoided by learning how to properly use equipment or hazardous situations.

Safety officers don’t just provide pre-emptive solutions to minimise safety risks. You also address safety issues after an accident or incident at the workplace. For instance, you investigate incidents at the workplace, whether minor or major issues, to determine the cause and find recommendations to prevent future accidents.

Regardless of the industry you work in, including manufacturing and mining, you ensure the company complies with Safe Work Australia regulations. That involves having the necessary documentation to show compliance and avoid non-compliance penalties. The role requires extensive knowledge of safety procedures and logical thinking to investigate safety hazards at the workplace.

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average safety officer salary

The average remuneration package for safety officers in Australia is $95,000 per year. Your remuneration fluctuates based on various factors. For instance, in a junior-level role, you start with a salary of $85,000 annually, which translates to about $35 an hour. However, with experience, your earnings increase gradually, and you are likely to earn over $105,000 per year or an hourly rate of $50.

how to increase your salary as a safety officer

As a safety officer, your earnings fluctuate based on various factors, such as skills, area of work and the number of hours. Safety officer jobs are available in full-time and part-time positions. If you work full-time, you earn a higher hourly wage than part-time workers. Working overtime and outside standard business hours also increases your earnings significantly.

The industry you work in determines your remuneration. The primary industries for safety workers are construction, mining, healthcare and public administration. The complexity of the duties in the mining and construction industries increases your earning potential.

Some regions also have higher salary prospects. For instance, Western Australia has a higher demand for safety officers, so you're more likely to enjoy a competitive salary. Working in metro areas also improves your remuneration prospects.

Want to know what you will earn as a safety officer? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

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types of safety offices

As a safety officer, you have multiple areas of specialisation to explore. For instance, you can become a workplace health and safety auditor responsible for inspecting the work areas of specific industries. You check if companies adhere to established health and safety standards.

Some safety officers become industrial or occupational hygienists responsible for dealing with issues associated with chemical and biological hazards. You train employees on risks associated with hazardous substances. As a hazardous materials safety officer, you oversee the handling of hazardous materials. You review the storage and disposal of dangerous goods at the workplace.

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working as a safety officer

If you are interested in working as a safety officer, read on to discover the duties, work environments and work schedules of the role.

safety officer job description
Some of the daily tasks of safety officers include:
- identifying hazards at the workplace: as a safety officer, you assess hazards at the workplace. You review company processes, identify potential hazards and put control measures in place to minimise accidents. You record and document potential hazards, control measures and risks in the business. During assessments, you also check the handling, storage and disposal of dangerous materials or waste.
- supervising employees: as a safety officer, you ensure employees understand the company's safety protocols and adhere to them. You regularly conduct routine inspections to observe whether workers are following safety procedures. You also conduct safety checks on the equipment and set up first-aid procedures.
- training employees: as a safety officer, you ensure employees know the health and safety standards. That involves training employees on occupational health and safety. You develop training programs suitable to the industry you work in. For instance, you conduct face-to-face or online training. When the company hires new employees, you are part of the onboarding team to ensure they are trained on safety-related issues.
- creating a safe work environment: aside from training workers, you also ensure the company has safe working environments. For instance, you make sure the employees have the necessary equipment, such as protective clothing for operating machinery or equipment.
- investigating workplace accidents: as a safety officer, you investigate incidents that happen at the workplace. You determine the causes of incidents or injuries and recommend ways to prevent future accidents. If the accidents or injuries are beyond your scope, you escalate them to the relevant authorities for further action.
- reviewing policies: as a safety officer, you review policies associated with occupational health and safety. You liaise with employees to understand safety concerns and find ways to implement new procedures.
work environment

Many organisations recruit safety officers in the workplace to prevent injuries and accidents. You may work in manufacturing, construction, mining, healthcare, government or service-based organisations. As a safety officer, you work in various settings, like construction sites, government buildings and offices. When you work in the office, you review the safety policies and recommend areas of improvement. During inspections, you work offsite to inspect factories, construction sites and mining facilities.
who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include operations managers, site managers and production workers. You might also work in close proximity to plant operators and mechanical fitters, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, mechanical engineers, factory workers and site administrators.
work schedule

The typical work schedule of a safety officer is 40 hours a week in a full-time position. You work Monday to Friday during traditional business hours. Sometimes, you work evenings to handle emergencies and deal with incidents that occur outside business hours. While safety officers work in manufacturing with 24/7 production cycles, they don't work in shifts since site inspections are not done daily.
job outlook

As a safety officer, you have extensive knowledge of workplace health and safety. There is a high demand for the role, with job openings expected to increase by 5.4% in the next five years. You can specialise in various areas associated with workplace health and safety. For instance, specialise in becoming a safety trainer and assessor, risks and hazards assessor, or occupational health and safety trainer. Some safety officers also work as workplace health and safety auditors or industrial or occupational hygienists.
advantages of finding a safety officer job through randstad
Finding your safety officer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a safety officer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

4

education and skills

If you want to become a safety officer, you require an occupational health and safety qualification and the necessary professional certification. Pursue a Certificate IV in work health and safety or a diploma in work health and safety accredited by the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board. You can also start your career as a safety officer with a degree in occupational health and safety.

You should also consider getting a Construction Industry Induction Card or first aid certification by completing a short course in a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Improve your career prospects by applying for certification with the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). Once you receive certification, you should renew it annually and receive ongoing professional development.

Aside from educational qualifications and certifications, improve your experience through internships and entry-level roles. Working alongside safety officers improves your knowledge and skills.

safety officer skills and competencies

Some of the soft skills that a safety officer needs include:

communication skills: as a safety officer, you perform multiple tasks and communicate with different departments. You require good communication skills to explain work safety procedures or train employees on health and safety standards. Your communication skills help you communicate tactfully and help stakeholders understand their obligations and follow the guidelines.
problem-solving skills: as a safety officer, your job involves investigating incidents at the workplace. Your problem-solving skills help you think logically and critically to determine the cause of the accidents, as well as provide recommendations on how to avert future accidents.
risk management skills: as a safety officer, your primary responsibility is to identify potential hazards at the workplace. You use your risk management skills to assess the workplace for dangers and formulate workplace health and safety policies.

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FAQs about working as a safety officer

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a safety officer.

are safety officers in demand in Australia?

The demand for safety officers is increasing since many industries are concerned with the safety of employees. The job growth rate for the role is 5.4% in the next five years. Besides, you can work in diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing and mining.
what qualifications are required for safety officers in Australia?

You require specific educational qualifications and certifications to work as a safety officer in Australia. Complete a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety to gain relevant skills for the role. You can also start with a diploma in work health and safety. Most employers will require certification from the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS).
how much do safety officers earn in Australia?

As a safety officer, you earn an average remuneration package of $95,000 per year. When you are new in the role, you take home a salary of $85,000 annually, while the most experienced safety officers earn over $105,000 per year.
what is your duty as a safety officer?

As a safety officer, you ensure the work environment is safe for employees. You formulate the work health safety policies and ensure the implementation of safety procedures. You also train employees to stay safe and make sure they have protective equipment to prevent accidents or injuries.
is safety officer a good career in Australia?

Working as a safety officer allows you to build your knowledge in work safety and gain experience to specialise in other roles. The remuneration package and job growth prospects for safety officers are also promising.
how do I apply for a safety officer vacancy?

Applying for a safety officer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.

safety officer.