safety officer.

Some of the daily tasks of safety officers include:
 

• identifying hazards at the workplace: as a safety officer, you assess hazards at the workplace. You review company processes, identify potential hazards and put control measures in place to minimise accidents. You record and document potential hazards, control measures and risks in the business. During assessments, you also check the handling, storage and disposal of dangerous materials or waste.
• supervising employees: as a safety officer, you ensure employees understand the company's safety protocols and adhere to them. You regularly conduct routine inspections to observe whether workers are following safety procedures. You also conduct safety checks on the equipment and set up first-aid procedures.
• training employees: as a safety officer, you ensure employees know the health and safety standards. That involves training employees on occupational health and safety. You develop training programs suitable to the industry you work in. For instance, you conduct face-to-face or online training. When the company hires new employees, you are part of the onboarding team to ensure they are trained on safety-related issues.
• creating a safe work environment: aside from training workers, you also ensure the company has safe working environments. For instance, you make sure the employees have the necessary equipment, such as protective clothing for operating machinery or equipment.
• investigating workplace accidents: as a safety officer, you investigate incidents that happen at the workplace. You determine the causes of incidents or injuries and recommend ways to prevent future accidents. If the accidents or injuries are beyond your scope, you escalate them to the relevant authorities for further action.
• reviewing policies: as a safety officer, you review policies associated with occupational health and safety. You liaise with employees to understand safety concerns and find ways to implement new procedures.

Many organisations recruit safety officers in the workplace to prevent injuries and accidents. You may work in manufacturing, construction, mining, healthcare, government or service-based organisations. As a safety officer, you work in various settings, like construction sites, government buildings and offices. When you work in the office, you review the safety policies and recommend areas of improvement. During inspections, you work offsite to inspect factories, construction sites and mining facilities.

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include operations managers, site managers and production workers. You might also work in close proximity to plant operators and mechanical fitters, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, mechanical engineers, factory workers and site administrators.

The typical work schedule of a safety officer is 40 hours a week in a full-time position. You work Monday to Friday during traditional business hours. Sometimes, you work evenings to handle emergencies and deal with incidents that occur outside business hours. While safety officers work in manufacturing with 24/7 production cycles, they don't work in shifts since site inspections are not done daily.

As a safety officer, you have extensive knowledge of workplace health and safety. There is a high demand for the role, with job openings expected to increase by 5.4% in the next five years. You can specialise in various areas associated with workplace health and safety. For instance, specialise in becoming a safety trainer and assessor, risks and hazards assessor, or occupational health and safety trainer. Some safety officers also work as workplace health and safety auditors or industrial or occupational hygienists.

Finding your safety officer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
 

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a safety officer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

The demand for safety officers is increasing since many industries are concerned with the safety of employees. The job growth rate for the role is 5.4% in the next five years. Besides, you can work in diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing and mining.

You require specific educational qualifications and certifications to work as a safety officer in Australia. Complete a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety to gain relevant skills for the role. You can also start with a diploma in work health and safety. Most employers will require certification from the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS).

As a safety officer, you earn an average remuneration package of $95,000 per year. When you are new in the role, you take home a salary of $85,000 annually, while the most experienced safety officers earn over $105,000 per year.

As a safety officer, you ensure the work environment is safe for employees. You formulate the work health safety policies and ensure the implementation of safety procedures. You also train employees to stay safe and make sure they have protective equipment to prevent accidents or injuries.

Working as a safety officer allows you to build your knowledge in work safety and gain experience to specialise in other roles. The remuneration package and job growth prospects for safety officers are also promising.

Applying for a safety officer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.