Just some of your
CAREER choices
Discover a career in
the civil industry as a…
WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY
OFFICER
A Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHS) job is to help make sure everyone on a civil site working safely.
THE ROLE
A WHS Officer manages workplace health and safety protection issues and systems on projects or for the company as a whole.
This person will monitor compliance to safety policies, audit performance, train and advise staff to ensure safe practices are followed, and advise managers on how to best maintain a safe and healthy workplace.
THE CAREER
WHERE WILL YOU WORK?
Anywhere there are roads, and there are roads everywhere! You could be working on highways, motorways, building a new suburb, a fire trail, or maintaining an existing road in a tunnel.
WHO WILL EMPLOY YOU?
You will have lots of options. Small, medium and large businesses, local councils, and Government agencies all employ people in this role.
HOW SAFE IS IT?
Modern equipment is very, very safe. The civil construction industry is primarily funded by Government, and so is very safety focused.
IS THE WORK TECHNICALLY HARD?
We aren’t using lego, but not really. It’s challenging, and you will learn a lot, but your employer will train you on the job in each task and each piece of plant you operate.
IS THE WORK PHYSICALLY HARD?
It is physical work, but you do not need to be superwoman or superman. Everyone is different and can do different things and employers know that.
Just some of your
CAREER choices
THE TRAINING
IS THERE TRAINING PROVIDED AND WILL IT COST YOU?
There are skills needed to be a WHS Officer, and your employer can organise for this training you and will pay for it. If you want to get a qualification it will be paid for by the employer and the Government.
IS THERE A QUALIFICATION?
Yes. You can receive a Nationally recognised qualification such as a Certificate IV in Workplace Health and Safety, or become a certified auditor.
CAN YOU GET A TRADE?
There is no specific trade in WHS, but many people who have done trades go on to become WHS Officers.
REQUIREMENTS
WHO IS SUITED TO THIS JOB?
People who like working outdoors, are focused on detail and process, and communicate well.
HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO START?
You can start from the earliest legal minimum working age in civil, but will need some experience on a site to be a good WHS person.
WHAT SUBJECTS AND GRADES FROM SCHOOL DO YOU NEED?
There are NO minimum score results, or
ARE THERE ANY PREREQUISITES TO STARTING?
No. Your employer will even pay for your safety gear!
THE FUTURE
IS THERE A FUTURE CAREER?
Yes! WHS is a great pathway to a career in management. You can become a WHS Manager and then go on to manage other “systems” like Environment and Quality.
WILL YOU HAVE TO MOVE AROUND?
No. It’s your call when you choose between jobs as some employers have projects in different locations. If you do move, your expenses are often covered by the employer.
CAN YOU GET MORE SKILLS LATER?
Yes, if you want to. There are Certificate IV’s, Diplomas and management courses you can do in WHS. It’s your call what you do and how far you go!
CAN YOU GO TO UNI ONE DAY?
Yes. The practical skills you learn will be very useful for engineering or systems related courses.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
There are a few options… Most good WHS people have worked on a civil site for a while as, for example, a Site Hand, Mechanic, Constructor or Plant Operator, to learn the ropes.