What skill set must Schools and Colleges look for before engaging a Safety Consultant?

What skill set must Schools and Colleges look for before engaging a Safety Consultant?

A successful safety consultant should possess a wide range of qualifications, including a degree or certification in safety management, knowledge of safety regulations and procedures, communication skills, problem-solving skills, organisational skills and interpersonal skills. With the right qualifications and skills, a safety consultant can be an invaluable asset to any organisation in helping to ensure a safe work environment.

Additionally, the Safety Consultant must have a working knowledge of how the schools and colleges work in the education environment, especially when children are exposed to hazards. Often the controls considered in an ordinary workplace will not be valid in this type of environment.

Specific Safety Consultant skills and experience

A Safety Consultant skills and experience are considered ‘Professional’ by the Australian Health and Safety Institute (AIHS). Any Safety Consultant being utilised to provide assist and with improving health and safety in the education environment should be at least certified to the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). The levels for a certified safety consultant considered to provide advice on health and safety are,

• Practitioner (COHSPrac) – Implement strategies and actions usually designed by an OHS Professional. They support a safe working environment by maintaining OHS administrative processes, conducting basic training and using a range of state-of-the-art tools, processes and standard practice solutions to OHS risks and their management, particularly aimed at routine and well-known processes and work.
• Professional (COHSProf) – Design strategies relating to the organisation and management of OHS within the wider context of business processes and the external regulatory, market and societal influences. They are influential and involved in problem solving and organisational review and change as advisers and consultants.
• Chartered Professional (ChOHSP) – Building on the role of the OHS Profession, the Chartered Professional is a person with high level specialist skills in a specific area and/or high-level strategic skills. They are likely to be a designer of strategy and influential with senior management and/or policy makers.

Note: Additional information on the roles is available at AIHS

Additional recognition may be required for a safety consultant when utilising this person to perform safety management system audits. Exemplar Global an internationally recognised certification body considered the leader in certification for Auditors. Formerly known as RABQSA, Exemplar Global has over 30 years of building certification programs. They have a proven history developing auditors through their internationally recognised training programs and support.

A properly qualified and certified safety consultant can provide advice and guidance on health and safety issues in the workplace that has been backed up with an oversight of these types of certification companies. They are responsible for helping organisations create and maintain a safe working environment for their employees. The Safety Consultant just have a variety of skills, qualifications, expertise, and experience, which are essential for success in their role.

The variety of skills, qualifications, expertise, and experience, which are essential for a Safety Consultant to be successful in their role, include:

1. Knowledge of the Model Health and Safety legislation managed by Safe Work Australia and the related health and safety material: must be knowledgeable about relevant health and safety legislation for each state and territory. They should be able to (at least) state the applicable Act/Regulation, Australian Standards and any related material that provides guidance on the legislative compliance. This knowledge can be obtained through formal education, experience in the field, or both.
2. Ability to Analyse Risk: must be able to identify potential risks to children and develop strategies to mitigate them. This includes being able to evaluate the severity of risks, recognise hazards, and develop control measures where needed.
3. Knowledge of Risk Assessment: must be able to conduct risk assessments and produce reports that outline the risks and appropriate risk control measures specifically in the education environment.
4. Strong Communication Skills: must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of education providers, including management, other workers, and regulatory bodies. This includes being able to explain complex safety issues in a clear and concise manner.
5. Ability to Develop and Implement Safety Plans: must be able to develop and implement safety plans that are tailored to the needs of the education environment. This includes when required, creating training materials, safety policies and procedures, and conducting safety audits.
6. Experience in Safety Training: must be experienced in delivering safety training in the education environment. This includes being able to identify training needs, develop suitable training materials, and facilitate effective training sessions. Having knowledge of the AQTF and update TAE qualifications will greatly assist in this aspect.
7. Knowledge of Emergency Response Plans: must be aware of how to respond to emergency situations and be able to develop emergency response plans specifically related to the peculiarities of the education environment.
8. Ability to Conduct Investigations: must be able to investigate incidents and accidents, identify root causes, and develop preventative measures. These need to be reasonably practicable when related to the education environment.

The qualifications required to be a successful safety consultant in the education environment may vary depending on the type of facility. The Safety Consultant can assist with processes designed to Monitor the Safety Systems in the organisation to ensure that they remain effective.

Organisations should have a Safety Management System to assist in ensuring risks such as these to not eventuate or are kept low. We have more information on the Safety Management System we support (Safety Direct^tm) and the various function it can perform for your school or college.

Overall, Safety Consultants must possess a wide range of skills, qualifications, expertise, and experience to be successful in their role. They must have a strong understanding of WHS Legislation, be able to identify and analyse risk, have excellent communication skills, and can develop and implement safety plans. Our Safety Consultants can also support you in driving safety through efficient safety monitoring systems that will assist in keeping your workplace safe and compliant.

Additionally, they must be able to conduct investigations and develop emergency response plans. Those who possess these skills and experience can successfully provide advice and guidance on health and safety in the workplace.

Following are some posts with added information for this topic that may assist in you deciding on using a Safety Consultant to assist your business,

• What is a Safety Consultant?
• How can a Safety Consultant assist with Health and Safety regulatory compliance?
• Importance of Professional Certification for Safety Consultants.
• Safety Consultants assisting with reducing workplace injuries.
• The importance of getting Qualified Safety Advice.
• What qualifications and certifications should I look for in a Safety Consultant?
• What skill set must you look for before engaging a Safety Consultant?
• Developing Safe Systems of Work and how a Safety Consultant can help?

If you are interested in our WHS Consultancy services, you can contact David, Andrew or Mark to discuss your Health and Safety Issues.

We have qualified and certified Safety Consultants that can assist you in your business and offer a range of WHS consulting services along with general and specific health and safety training courses.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote on any of our services.