COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Applying Essential WHS Management Systems in Modern Workplaces course. This program has been designed to provide you with a solid understanding of how effective Work Health and Safety (WHS) management systems are established, implemented, and sustained to protect workers, meet legal obligations, and support productive, well-governed workplaces across all industries.
Workplace health and safety management is a fundamental organisational responsibility. This course begins by introducing the purpose and objectives of WHS management in contemporary work environments, outlining the legal and organisational duties involved in maintaining safe systems of work. It explores the key principles that underpin effective WHS management systems and explains how these systems integrate with everyday business operations to support compliance, risk reduction, and organisational resilience.
Understanding the structure of WHS management systems is critical to effective application. This section provides an overview of the core elements of a WHS management system, how these align with legislative and regulatory requirements, and how WHS responsibilities are embedded within organisational governance frameworks. It also introduces the importance of regular review and continuous improvement to ensure systems remain effective as workplaces evolve.
Safety management provides the foundation for consistent and proactive safety practices. This section examines the development and implementation of workplace safety policies and procedures, the roles of leaders and supervisors in driving safety outcomes, and the importance of promoting a positive safety culture. It also explores methods for monitoring and reviewing safety practices to ensure controls remain effective.
Risk management is central to preventing workplace harm. This section focuses on identifying risks across different tasks and environments, applying appropriate risk assessment and prioritisation methods, and implementing controls using the hierarchy of control. It emphasises the need to regularly review and update risk management processes as work activities and conditions change.
Hazard management supports early identification and control of potential sources of harm. This section examines how to identify physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial hazards, establish effective hazard reporting and documentation processes, and implement appropriate control measures. It also highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring to ensure controls remain effective over time.
Incident management provides critical learning opportunities for improving safety systems. This section defines incidents, near misses, and notifiable events, and examines reporting and investigation procedures. It explores root cause analysis, corrective actions, and the importance of recording, reviewing, and learning from incidents to prevent recurrence.
Injury management focuses on supporting workers who experience injury or illness. This section explores early intervention principles, workplace-based support strategies, coordination with medical providers and insurers, and monitoring recovery and return-to-work progress. It highlights the importance of timely, coordinated approaches that support worker wellbeing and organisational outcomes.
Emergency management prepares organisations to respond effectively to unexpected events. This section examines how to identify potential workplace emergencies, develop response plans and procedures, train workers in emergency response and evacuation, and regularly test and review emergency preparedness arrangements.
Contractor safety management is essential where external parties are engaged. This section explores pre-engagement safety assessments, defining WHS responsibilities and expectations, monitoring contractor compliance, and managing contractor incidents and performance to ensure consistent safety standards across all workers.
Consultation is a legal and practical cornerstone of WHS management. This section examines consultation requirements, mechanisms for engaging workers on WHS matters, and the role of health and safety representatives and committees. It highlights how consultation outcomes contribute to improved safety practices and shared responsibility.
Return-to-work management supports recovery and reintegration following injury. This section explores effective return-to-work programs, development of suitable duties, communication between stakeholders, and monitoring outcomes to support safe and sustainable returns to work.
Fatigue management addresses risks associated with physical and mental fatigue. This section examines how fatigue impacts safety and performance, identifies workplace fatigue risk factors, and explores strategies for work design, monitoring, and supporting worker wellbeing.
Manual handling management focuses on preventing musculoskeletal injuries. This section examines identifying manual handling tasks, assessing associated risks, implementing control measures, and training workers in safe handling techniques to reduce injury risk.
Hazardous chemicals management addresses risks associated with chemical use. This section explores identifying hazardous chemicals, understanding safety data sheets and labelling, safe storage and handling practices, disposal requirements, exposure monitoring, and maintenance of chemical registers.
Safety performance management supports informed decision-making. This section examines establishing safety performance indicators, monitoring and analysing data, reporting outcomes, and using performance information to drive continuous safety improvement.
Finally, the course concludes with a focus on reviewing, integrating, and sustaining WHS management practices. This section explores evaluating system effectiveness, integrating WHS with broader organisational management systems, conducting audits and reviews, and building long-term commitment to workplace health and safety at all levels of the organisation.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, frameworks, and practical understanding required to apply essential WHS management systems effectively, support compliance, reduce risk, and foster safer, healthier, and more sustainable workplaces.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Workplace Health and Safety Systems
- Purpose and objectives of Work Health and Safety (WHS) management in modern workplaces
- Legal and organisational responsibilities for maintaining safe work environments
- Key principles underpinning effective WHS management systems
- Overview of how WHS systems integrate with business operations
2. Understanding Work Health and Safety Management Systems
- Structure and core elements of a WHS management system
- Aligning WHS systems with legislative and regulatory requirements
- Integrating WHS into organisational governance and operations
- Continuous improvement and review of WHS management systems
3. Safety Management
- Developing and implementing workplace safety policies and procedures
- Roles and responsibilities for safety leadership and supervision
- Promoting a positive safety culture across the organisation
- Monitoring and reviewing safety practices and controls
4. Risk Management
- Identifying workplace risks across tasks and environments
- Risk assessment methods and prioritisation techniques
- Implementing risk control measures using the hierarchy of control
- Reviewing and updating risk management processes
5. Hazard Management
- Identifying physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial hazards
- Hazard reporting and documentation processes
- Implementing hazard control measures
- Monitoring hazard controls for ongoing effectiveness
6. Incident Management
- Defining incidents, near misses, and notifiable events
- Incident reporting and investigation procedures
- Root cause analysis and corrective actions
- Recording, reviewing, and learning from incidents
7. Injury Management
- Principles of early intervention and injury management
- Supporting injured workers in the workplace
- Coordination with medical providers and insurers
- Monitoring recovery and return-to-work progress
8. Emergency Management
- Identifying potential workplace emergencies
- Developing emergency response plans and procedures
- Training workers in emergency response and evacuation
- Testing, reviewing, and improving emergency preparedness
9. Contractor Safety Management
- Pre-engagement safety assessment of contractors
- Defining safety responsibilities and expectations for contractors
- Monitoring contractor compliance with WHS requirements
- Managing contractor incidents and performance
10. Health and Safety Consultation Management
- Legal requirements for worker consultation on WHS matters
- Establishing consultation mechanisms and forums
- Role of health and safety representatives and committees
- Using consultation outcomes to improve safety practices
11. Return to Work Management
- Principles of effective return-to-work programs
- Developing suitable duties and return-to-work plans
- Supporting communication between workers, managers, and providers
- Monitoring and reviewing return-to-work outcomes
12. Fatigue Management
- Understanding fatigue and its impact on safety and performance
- Identifying fatigue risk factors in the workplace
- Implementing fatigue control strategies and work design
- Monitoring fatigue risks and worker wellbeing
13. Manual Handling Management
- Identifying manual handling tasks and associated risks
- Assessing manual handling hazards
- Implementing controls to reduce musculoskeletal injury
- Training workers in safe manual handling practices
14. Hazardous Chemicals Management
- Identifying hazardous chemicals used in the workplace
- Understanding safety data sheets and labelling requirements
- Safe storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous chemicals
- Monitoring exposure and maintaining chemical registers
15. Safety Performance Management
- Establishing safety performance indicators and metrics
- Monitoring and analysing safety performance data
- Reporting safety outcomes to management and workers
- Using performance data to drive safety improvements
16. Reviewing, Integrating, and Sustaining WHS Management Practices
- Evaluating the effectiveness of WHS management systems
- Integrating WHS with broader organisational management systems
- Continuous improvement through audits and reviews
- Building long-term commitment to workplace health and safety
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital โCertificate of Completionโ.