Safety inspector
<p>Safety inspectors visit workplaces to ensure that they are adhering to government and industry standards for occupational health and safety, from busy factories in the state's busy industrial centres, to mining operations in our regional areas.</p> <p>They advise employers and employees about safe work practices, help to implement health and safety management systems in various workplaces, inspect specific machinery or equipment, and ensure that the correct protective equipment is being used by employees.</p> <p>Safety inspectors also enforce health and safety legislation by investigating complaints that refer to accidents or occupational disease, report on the results of their investigations, and serve infringement notices to employers that do not comply with legal requirements.</p>
Working conditions
<p>Safety inspectors may be based in an office and travel to various work sites in order to conduct inspections, or they may work at one specific larger site that requires constant safety co-ordination. These are more likely to be industrial environments, such as factories or mine sites. They may be required to work at heights or in confined spaces, and may get dirty as a result of inspecting some work sites.</p>
Tools and technologies
<p>Safety inspectors often need to wear protective clothing such as a high-visibility safety jackets, hard hats, steel-capped boots, safety glasses, overalls and earmuffs when working in industrial and mining environments. They may also need to be familiar with specialist electronic equipment such as noise, airflow, heat, lighting and solvent monitoring equipment. They may use cameras, measuring instruments and electronic notebooks to record information about the work sites they visit.</p>
Education and training
<p>To become a safety inspector, you usually need to complete a qualification in health and safety.</p>
<p>The Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety, are offered at TAFE Colleges and other registered training organisations throughout Western Australia.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/">Browse courses through Jobs and Skills WA</a> and <a href="https://www.myskills.gov.au">search on the My Skills website</a> to find a registered provider near you.</p>
<p>You can also undertake a traineeship in occupational health and safety (Level 4). The traineeship usually takes 24 months to complete.</p>
<p>You can also complete a degree majoring in health, safety and environment, or occupational safety and health. Some universities in Western Australia offer relevant courses. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information.</p>
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