Manage Work Health & Safety (WHS) RisksCOURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to the Manage Work Health & Safety (WHS) Risks course. This program has been developed to strengthen your capability to identify, assess and control WHS risks across a diverse range of workplaces and operational environments. Effective WHS risk management is essential to preventing harm. This course begins by introducing the purpose of WHS risk management, its application across industries and WHS roles, and its connection to

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Manage Work Health & Safety (WHS) Risks course. This program has been developed to strengthen your capability to identify, assess and control WHS risks across a diverse range of workplaces and operational environments.

Effective WHS risk management is essential to preventing harm. This course begins by introducing the purpose of WHS risk management, its application across industries and WHS roles, and its connection to the broader Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS) and Work Health and Safety Information System (WHSIS). It also outlines the legislative and organisational compliance frameworks that guide safe work practices and ensure organisations meet their WHS obligations.

Understanding WHS terminology and core concepts is critical for consistent communication. This section defines hazards and risks, explains the differences between them, and introduces the basic principles of incident, injury and disease causation. Learners build a shared language to support accurate reporting, assessment and control.

WHS communication and consultation are legal and organisational requirements. This section explores formal communication mechanisms, informal channels used across teams, key WHS personnel involved in information sharing and the consultation expectations established under WHS legislation. Learners examine how effective communication strengthens hazard awareness and early intervention.

Workforce characteristics influence WHS risk in every workplace. This section examines communication skill levels, cultural and gender diversity, labour market structures, literacy and numeracy considerations, employment types, shift arrangements, geographical dispersion, workers with specific needs and workplace culture issues—including alcohol and drug considerations. Learners consider how these factors shape risk levels and control measures.

Reliable WHS information supports evidence-based decision-making. This section outlines internal and external sources of WHS data and the methods used to access information about hazards, incidents, workers’ compensation, standards and regulatory requirements.

Understanding the limitations of WHS tools is essential for accurate assessment. This section explains the constraints of generic hazard checklists, standard risk assessment templates and risk ranking systems. Learners examine how tools can misrepresent or overlook risks when not used carefully.

The legislative framework provides the foundation for WHS management. This section covers Commonwealth and State/Territory WHS Acts and regulations, approved Codes of Practice, Standards and guidance materials and other publications relevant to organisational WHS compliance.

Clear roles and responsibilities support effective WHS governance. This section explores duties of PCBUs, officers and workers, along with the responsibilities of additional WHS stakeholders such as contractors, suppliers and visitors.

WHS risk management is a legal duty. This section outlines the systems, documentation and processes required to meet legislative requirements and the methods organisations use to demonstrate compliance during audits, inspections and regulatory reviews.

Workplace processes and culture shape WHS outcomes. This section examines workflow, planning and control arrangements, hazard-creating activities and how organisational and team culture influence risk-taking behaviours, communication and WHS performance.

WHS policies, procedures and systems provide structure and consistency. This section explores WHS policies, organisational WHS processes, WHSMS components, WHSIS components and other organisational functions that contribute to safety and compliance.

A systematic approach supports consistent and reliable WHS outcomes. This section explains the principles and practices of structured WHS risk management and how they integrate with the WHSMS and WHSIS.

Hazard identification and risk assessment require a variety of tools and techniques. This section examines checklists, hazard hunts, JSAs, manifests and registers, SWMS, surveys, interviews, questionnaires, workplace inspections and walk-throughs to identify hazards and assess associated risks.

Control measures form the foundation of WHS risk reduction. This section outlines hierarchy-of-control concepts, common industry controls and the selection of appropriate controls based on hazard type and exposure.

Accessing hazard and risk information strengthens decision-making. This section explains how to identify sources of WHS information, obtain data on hazard nature and harm pathways, and gather guidance on assessment tools and control options.

Preparing to manage WHS risks requires a sound understanding of WHSMS structures, legislative duties and applicable regulations. This section guides learners through identifying duty holders and legal obligations relevant to risk management tasks.

Hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control form the core WHS functions. This section outlines how to apply tools and processes to identify hazards, assess risk levels and identify risk control options.

Selecting and applying WHS risk controls requires practical judgment and legal awareness. This section covers selecting controls in accordance with legislative, organisational and technical requirements.

The development and implementation of risk control plans supports ongoing WHS improvement. This section examines how to establish a control plan, implement control measures and evaluate their effectiveness in practice.

The course concludes by focusing on conducting hazard identification and risk-management activities according to legal and organisational expectations. Learners develop the confidence to apply WHS risk-management processes consistently across different work situations.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the WHS knowledge, systematic thinking and practical skills required to identify, assess and control risks effectively while supporting compliance, safety and organisational wellbeing.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

This course is designed to align with the content outlined in the Nationally Recognised Unit of Competency BSBWHS504.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Managing WHS Risks

• Purpose of WHS risk management
• Application across industries and WHS roles
• Relationship to the WHSMS and WHSIS
• Legislative and organisational WHS compliance context

2. WHS Terminology and Core Concepts

• Definitions of hazard and risk
• Key differences between hazards and risks
• Basic principles of incident, injury and disease causation

3. WHS Communication and Consultation Requirements

• Formal communication processes related to WHS
• Informal communication channels
• Key WHS personnel involved in communication
• Consultation expectations under WHS legislation

4. Workforce Characteristics Influencing WHS Risk

• Communication skill levels
• Cultural background and diversity
• Gender considerations
• Labour market and workforce structure
• Language, literacy and numeracy factors
• Part-time, casual and contract work arrangements
• Shift rosters and geographical dispersion
• Workers with specific needs or limitations
• Workplace culture, including alcohol and drug considerations

5. Internal and External Sources of WHS Information and Data

• Internal WHS data sources
• External WHS data sources
• Methods for accessing WHS data

6. Limitations of WHS Checklists and Risk Tools

• Limitations of generic hazard identification checklists
• Limitations of risk assessment templates
• Limitations of risk ranking processes

7. WHS Legislative Framework

• Commonwealth and State/Territory WHS Acts and regulations
• Codes of practice
• Standards and guidance materials
• Publications relevant to organisational WHS

8. WHS Duties, Roles and Responsibilities

• Duty of persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
• Duties of officers under WHS legislation
• Worker duties and obligations
• Responsibilities of other WHS-related parties

9. WHS Risk Management Requirements

• Risk management as a legislative duty
• Systems, processes and documentation required for compliance
• Methods for providing evidence of legal compliance

10. Workplace Processes and Organisational Culture

• Nature of workplace processes (workflow, planning and control)
• Hazard-creating processes and activities
• Organisational culture and its influence on WHS risk
• Work team culture and communication patterns

11. Organisational WHS Policies, Procedures and Systems

• WHS policies and procedures
• WHS processes and workflows
• WHSMS components
• WHSIS components
• Other functional areas impacting WHS

12. Systematic Approaches to WHS Management

• Principles of systematic WHS risk management
• Practices used in structured WHS management
• Integration with WHSMS and WHSIS

13. Techniques, Tools and Processes for Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

• Hazard and risk checklists
• Hazard hunts
• Job safety analyses (JSAs)
• Manifests and registers (dangerous goods, chemicals, plant)
• Safe work method statements (SWMS)
• Surveys, interviews and questionnaires
• Workplace inspections and walk-throughs

14. Standard Industry Controls for WHS Hazards

• Hierarchy of control concepts
• Common control measures for typical WHS hazards
• Selection of appropriate controls based on hazard type

15. Accessing WHS Hazard and Risk Information

• Identifying sources of WHS information and data
• Obtaining data on hazard nature, scope and harm pathways
• Obtaining information on risk assessment tools, techniques and control options

16. Preparing to Manage WHS Risks

• Applying knowledge of the WHSMS to identify risk-management requirements
• Applying WHS legislation to identify duty holders
• Identifying legislative requirements relevant to WHS risk management

17. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control

• Applying techniques, tools and processes to identify hazards
• Assessing associated WHS risks
• Identifying risk control options

18. Selecting and Applying WHS Risk Controls

• Applying hazard and risk knowledge to select controls
• Selecting controls aligned with legislation and organisational requirements

19. Developing and Implementing a Risk Control Plan

• Establishing a WHS risk control plan
• Implementing risk controls
• Evaluating risk controls for effectiveness

20. Conducting Hazard Identification and Risk Management

• Performing hazard identification according to organisational requirements
• Meeting legal requirements during risk-management activities

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.