A great misconception prevails about health and safety issues in an office environment: that there are low or minimal risks and hazards in an office as compared to a construction site.
However, the modern office presents certain occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards such as tripping, exposure to ill-maintained air-conditioning systems or bad ergonomics. Health and safety in an office also covers the psychological, social and mental aspects of working in a confined space.
From ensuring that there are designated OHS work groups in the various departments to the providing of first aid training in a company and implementation of wellness programs, OHS professionals work to align a company’s business goals with the Workplace Health and Safety Act as legislated by the government and WorkSafe agency.
OHS courses for the office
The objectives of OHS courses aim to provide executives and professionals with the skills and knowledge to prevent and manage occupational health and safety problems in the company. OHS responsibilities may come under the scope of risk management and/or human resource depending on the structure of the companies. OHS courses will enable you to attain skills necessary for the evaluation of your company’s business and identify any occupational safety issues that are associated with the daily business activities within the company.
OHS courses offered by TAFE institutions, OHS peak bodies and private colleges are made up of various units that aim to provide students with a holistic knowledge of OHS. To undertake an OHS course that will benefit your career and enable you to attain a skill at the same time, it is important to assess the gaps that are present in your current OHS knowledge and qualifications against your company’s OHS strategies and compliance. On a fun note, OHS courses for the office can also include wellness and healthy activities such as first aid training for the office, yoga or counselling sessions.
If you’re in charge of OHS assessment and evaluation in your company, OHS courses for “training the trainer” are useful to ensure that you are kept abreast of the latest developments in OHS issues.