Things to know about Occupational Health and Safety Officer

An occupational health and safety officer (OHSO) is a trained and competent person in an organization, who is responsible for monitoring and supervisory workplace risks. This specific works in close assistance with government and other concerned regulating authorities to confirm a risk and hazard free workplace. Occupational health and safety officers coordinate health and safety systems in an organization. They find hazards, measure risks to health and safety, put proper safety controls in place and deliver advice about accident prevention and occupational health to management and employees. With experience and sometimes further training, occupational health and safety officers might become auditors, who check a workplace's level of compliance with occupational health and safety standard.

An occupational health and safety officer instructs managers and workers in an effort to mitigate risks by removing, substituting, changing or stopping. This decreases health, safety, and environmental risks rising from a process or substance. An occupational health and safety officer is actively involved in the following duties:

• Confirming the organizational activities obey with local health and safety regulations and the best practices in the industry.
• Working in near relation with the management and set safety standards in workplaces.
• Carrying out risk assessments and finding hazards.
• Carrying out safety examinations and internal audits and reporting to the management for proper actions.
• Confirming preventive actions, risk control and personal protecting equipment are applied and used.
• Supporting in establishment of health and safety policies.
• Developing occupational health and safety systems, policies, methods, manuals and arrange for exercises and training.
• Guiding management to enhance all safety aspects of the workplace.
• Recordkeeping of all safety related events.
• Examining and report accidents and near misses.
• Following up post injury procedures Occupational Health and Safety Officer wants to have professional capabilities and occupational health and safety certificates.

Personal requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety Officer:

• Tactful and diplomatic.
• Capable to work independently or as part of a team.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Discretion and respect for confidentiality and privacy.
• Integrity and honesty.

An occupational health and safety officer must have a knowledge of the following:

• OSHA and other local or federal safety standards.
• Environmental safety standards.
• Occupational and emergency safety procedures.
• Construction safety standards.
• Labor and environmental laws.
• Other safety related problems.

Occupational Health and Safety Officer Training will deliver knowledge and awareness beneficial for establishing occupational health and safety at workplace. Occupational Health and Safety Officer training will help to gain knowledge and understanding of some most common occupational health and safety topics that may need in order to fulfil responsibilities, and also helps OHSAS Officers and OH&S professionals in understanding all major occupational health and safety hazards usually found in workplaces and industries, e.g. fire hazards, electrical risks, chemical hazards, as well as hazards associated with compressed gas cylinders, working at height and in confined spaces.

Ian Colin has published many articles regarding ISO Certification. Ian has rich experience as a online publisher and prepared various Certification documents as per ISO guideline since large amount of years in his professional career.