Public Sector Learning
and Development Portal

CORE
COMPETENCIES
PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS / TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
CORE VALUES
GOJ
Competency
Model
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Ensures safe, healthy, and compliant work environments by developing policies, conducting risk assessments, and leading wellness initiatives. This includes embedding a safety-first culture and meeting legislative requirements.

Sub-competencies

Behavioural Competencies

Return to Clusters
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Technical Competency: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Professional Descriptors for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Foundational

Responsibilities and Expertise

Supports basic OHS activities, including conducting risk assessments, assisting with wellness initiatives, and following established safety protocols under supervision.

Sample Job Roles

HR Assistant; Assistant HR Officer.

Qualifications and/or Certification

  • Associate degree in HRM, Business Administration or a related field
  • 0-1 year of experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree in HRM, Business Administration, Public Administration, Psychology, or a related field

Responsibilities and Expertise

Ensures compliance with safety regulations, manages incident reporting, conducts audits, and provides guidance on safety practices.

Sample Job Roles

Occupational Safety, Health & Wellbeing Officer

Qualifications and/or Certification

  • Bachelor’s Degree in HRM, Business Administration, Public Administration, Psychology, or a related field
  • 1-2 years or more of relevant work experience
  • Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma

Responsibilities and Expertise

Leads the development of safety programs, analyses data for improvement, and ensures organizational readiness for audits and compliance.

Sample Job Roles

Director Employee Relations, Safety and Wellbeing;

Qualifications and/or Certification

  • Bachelor’s degree in management studies, HRM&D, Public Sector Management, Public/Business Administration, or a related discipline.
  • 3 years of relevant work experience
  • Master’s Degree
  • Certification in HRM&D, Industrial Relations or related discipline

Responsibilities and Expertise

Sets the strategic direction for OHS, leads crisis response, advises leadership on trends, and ensures full compliance with safety requirements.

Sample Job Roles

Senior Director, Human Resource Management and Development

Qualifications and/or Certification

  • Master’s Degree in HRM&D, Organizational Development, Organizational Design, Public Administration/Policy
  • 5 years of managerial work experience in a related field
  • Advanced certification in HRM&D, Industrial Relations or related discipline
Performance Indicator for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)y
Foundational
  • Completes basic workplace risk assessments and identifies potential hazards.
  • Assists in implementing wellness and safety initiatives.
  • Follows established safety protocols and procedures consistently.
  • Reports safety concerns or incidents to supervisors promptly.
  • Participates in safety training and demonstrates understanding of key concepts.
  • Ensures compliance with health and safety regulations and standards.
  • Manages incident-reporting systems and ensures timely resolution of safety issues.
  • Conducts workplace safety audits and recommends corrective actions.
  • Provides guidance to teams on safety protocols and procedures.
  • Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of safety initiatives.
  • Prepares reports on safety compliance and incident trends.
  • Develops and implements organisation-wide safety programmes and initiatives.
  • Analyses health and safety data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
  • Ensures organisational readiness for health and safety audits and compliance checks.
  • Coaches managers and teams on their roles in maintaining a safe workplace.
  • Leads investigations into workplace incidents and ensures lessons learned are applied.
  • Establishes and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety programmes.
  • Develops and communicates the long-term safety strategy for the organization.
  • Leads crisis response efforts and ensures effective management of emergencies.
  • Advises senior leadership on emerging health and safety trends and risks.
  • Mentors and develops safety teams to build organizational capacity.
  • Ensures full compliance with all health and safety legislation and standards.
  • Represents the organization in external audits, regulatory reviews, and industry forums.

Learning Pathways Operating Models

HR Business Partners
HR Shared Services Centre
Centres of Expertise