Careers
Why not consider becoming a health and safety professional?
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals work to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of people in the workplace using a mix of core technical competencies and interpersonal skills such as facilitation, engagement, leadership and influencing. The management of psychosocial risk is also an aspect of the OHS role.
It is a multi-disciplinary profession which requires a mixture of formal training and practical experience. OHS professionals work closely with other specialists including Safety Engineers, Occupational Hygienists, Ergonomists, and Occupational Health professionals.
Job prospects
Job prospects for OHS professionals are above average, and wages are very good. New Zealand has a poor workplace health and safety performance record and both Government and industry are actively trying to reduce serious work-related incidents.
Career options include:
- Senior Health and Safety Managers
- Health and Safety Managers
- Health and Safety Consultants
- Senior Health and Safety Advisors
- Health and Safety Advisors
- Health and Safety Coordinators
- Health and Safety Officers
- Health and Safety Administrators
- Health and Safety Inspectors
Salaries
OHS practitioners are sought after and well paid. You can look through recent salary research below:
2023 Safeguard Annual Income Survey (You are able to request a free sample of Safeguard Magazine.)
What they do
It is a lot more interesting than hi-vis vests and a checklist. It's about helping to look after a company's most valuable asset - its people.
OHS professionals work to promote health and safety in the workplace and public places to ensure that working conditions are safe and healthy and comply with legal requirements. This is done using core technical competencies and interpersonal skills including facilitation, engagement, leadership and influencing skills.
This type of work includes providing identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring hazards and risks, completing risk assessments, investigating incidents, return to work and rehabilitation, training managers and employees, developing health and safety management systems, policies and procedures, auditing, and contractor management.
Other technical skills include hazardous substances management, machinery and equipment safety, fire safety and ventilation and knowledge of organisational behaviour, occupational health and hygiene, occupational psychology (human factors) and ergonomics.
Qualifications
There are a number of education providers offering OHS courses to start you on your health and journey.
NZISM has produced (published Dec. 2020) a useful brochure looking at those providers whose courses serve as a pathway to NZISM accreditation. The brochure considers courses NZQA Level 6 and above and compares course content, duration and fees.
You might also want to look at our list of recognised qualifications.
