Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety

Course overview

To bring all states into line with common legislation, the Commonwealth Government has announced that Occupational Health and Safety will be known as Workplace Health Safety from 01/01/2012. All courses will still be called Occupational Health and Safety until a new training package is introduced by the Commonwealth government. All our courses have been updated to comply with the new national legislation.

This course is for people who want to specialise in the management of OH&S, or for managers in organisations who have a high responsibility for OH&S. 

On successful completion of the units in this course the candidate will be able to participate in the coordination and maintenance of a systematic approach to managing OH&S, the management of the OH&S information and data systems, and risk and hazard management.

The course outcomes for this group will provide for the acquisition of in-depth knowledge in some areas of OH&S and application of skills across a broad range of contexts.

Course structure

The course structure below shows what you must do to complete this course. Units/modules are arranged in groups and sometimes also in subgroups.

You must complete each group as specified as well as following the course completion instructions. If a course contains optional groups there will be a statement at the top of the course indicating how many you must do. At the top of any group containing optional subgroups there will be a statement saying how many you must do.

Course contents

A total of 8 units must be completed - 5 core units plus at least 1 elective unit from the Diploma level and only 1 elective unit from the Certificate IV level.

Core Units

At least 5 module/units must be completed

Modules/Units	Name
BSBOHS501B	Participate in the coordination and maintenance of a systematic approach to managing OHS
BSBOHS502B	Participate in the management of the OHS information and data systems
BSBOHS503B	Assist in the design and development of OHS participative arrangements
BSBOHS504B	Apply principles of OHS risk management
BSBOHS505C	Manage hazards in the work environment
BSBOHS508B	Participate in the investigation of incidents

Electives Units - Diploma Level

At least 1 module/unit must be completed

Modules/Units	Name
BSBHRM506A	Manage recruitment selection and induction processes
BSBHRM509A	Manage rehabilitation or return to work programs
BSBMGT502B	Manage people performance
BSBOHS506B	Monitor and facilitate the management of hazards associated with plant
BSBOHS507B	Facilitate the application of principles of occupational health to control OHS risk
BSBOHS509A	Ensure a safe workplace
BSBPMG510A	Manage projects

Elective Units - Certificate IV Units

Only 1 module/unit must be completed

Modules/Units	Name
BSBOHS408A	Assist with compliance with OHS and other relevant laws
BSBOHS608B	Conduct an OHS audit

Career Opportunities

OH&S manager, OH&S practitioner, senior OH&S officer.

Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

To give you the greatest chance of successfully completing this qualification it is strongly recommended that students undertaking Diploma level qualifications follow the preferred pathways into this qualification, which include:

BSB41407 Certificate IV in Occupational Health and Safety or other relevant qualification/s

With extensive vocational experience in providing guidance to others in matters relating to occupational health and safety but without formal OHS qualifications

Examples of indicative job roles for candidates seeking entry based upon their vocational experience include: occupational health and safety coordinaton or occupational health and safety officer.

This breadth of expertise would equate to the competencies required to undertake this qualification. 

Computer Skills

Students would need to be able to operate a personal computer  to access:

Web pages

Manage files

Conduct research

Use email (with attachments)

Computer Requirements (Hardware/Software)

Home/Office computer.

Articulation

Graduates may proceed for further training in BSB60607 Advanced Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety, or university post-graduate programs with major studies in OH&S.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is the process of assessing a candidate’s competence based on evidence other than a recent testamur listing identical or equivalent units. Evidence that may be used for recognition includes (but is not limited to)

older testamur listing identical or equivalent units together with evidence of currency

current testamur listing similar, but not equivalent, units of competence together with evidence of competence in the gaps between those units and the target units

evidence of competence gained through informal learning and/or work experience

 Credit Transfer is the process of acknowledging  successful completion of one or more units of competence with TAFE NSW or any other RTO. To have those units credited towards the current qualification, the student must be able to provide a testamur with transcript of competencies achieved.

If the date of the testamur is more than three years prior to the current enrolment the candidate will need to demonstrate that their competencies are still current. This changes the process from credit transfer to recognition.

Note: For Credit Transfer and RPL - Units are only considered ‘equivalent’ if the current Training Package lists them as such in the mapping of units from the immediately previous version of that Training Package.

Sub courses
Manage rehabilitation or return to work programs	BSBHRM509A
Manage people performance	BSBMGT502B
Assist with compliance with OHS and other relevant laws	BSBOHS408A
Participate in the coordination and maintenance of a systematic approach to managing OHS	BSBOHS501B
Participate in the management of the OHS information and data systems	BSBOHS502B
Assist in the design and development of OHS participative arrangements	BSBOHS503B
Apply principles of OHS risk management	BSBOHS504B
Manage hazards in the work environment	BSBOHS505C
Monitor and facilitate the management of hazards associated with plant	BSBOHS506B
Facilitate the application of principles of occupational health to control OHS risk	BSBOHS507B
Participate in the investigation of incidents	BSBOHS508B
Ensure a safe workplace	BSBOHS509A
Conduct an OHS audit	BSBOHS608B
Manage projects	BSBPMG510A
Manage recruitment selection and induction processes	BSBHRM506A