HSE job advertisements have more than doubled in two years, with demand for health, safety, and environment professionals at an all-time high across several areas, according to a new analysis by consultancy firm The Safe Step.
In an article from the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, HSE coordinator roles are reportedly up 243% compared to the same time last year, while opportunities for early-career HSE professionals are now at an all-time high. In a press release Aaron Neilson, CEO of The Safe Step, notes that the mining industry remains a key driver of new opportunities.
“All major sectors employing HSE professionals saw record demand in 2022, and demand for HSE people wanting to work in resource-rich states such as WA and QLD is substantial and will remain high in 2023.”
Yet whilst demand for these critical roles is strong, the operational requirements of working as an HSE professional can be an ongoing challenge for those who are deeply entrenched in the day-to-day work.
HSE professionals face a raft of competing priorities, from maintaining compliance with regulations, implementing and maintaining effective safety management systems, addressing workplace hazards, training employees on safety procedures, monitoring performance and more.
In high-risk environments, these challenges are compounded with extra layers of regulations to comply with and very specific training requirements.
Every day, HSEs are responsible for maintaining a safe working environment which is a sizable task. However, by tapping into the expertise of external experts, HSEs can better manage some of the main challenges in their roles.
Managing Training Needs Across Disparate Teams
The training needs of each employee can vary wildly depending on their role, department, responsibilities and location. Without a good way to manage training requirements, ensuring your team is adequately trained can be a tedious and error-prone task.
There are plenty of software solutions available on the market that aim to streamline this process but even a simple spreadsheet can suffice – either way, it’s vital to keep accurate records of who has been trained in what, and when.
Partnering with a professional training provider can help you stay on top of things too. Having a good relationship with your chosen training organisation means their team will be in touch with you often, keeping you abreast of new training requirements or refreshers that have fallen due for individual staff members.
A good training partner can also help you discover opportunities for funded training which can help you upskill your employees in a cost-effective way.
Staying on Top of Compliance and Regulations
To ensure compliance with workplace health and safety legislation, HSEs must have a thorough understanding of what’s required and be able to provide evidence that their business and employees adhere to the rules.
A significant challenge for many HSE professionals is maintaining accurate records of staff registrations, licences, certifications and renewal dates. These records are crucial as they are the first thing that inspection officers will review during a visit.
Good record-keeping will get you off to a strong start but remember your training partner is here to support you in this regard too. Changes to training and licensing for heavy equipment are often in flux as regulators look to ensure that industry-standard course content accurately reflects the changing on-site environment.
Trainers and assessors are at the forefront of these conversations and can provide valuable insight to help you keep abreast of your compliance obligations.
Partner with Kallibr Training
Kallibr Training specialises in offering both a realistic training environment for students and a unique partnership approach for HSE professionals.
Our accredited training courses cover a wide range of areas from high-risk training and construction equipment training to safety training and plant operator courses. Contact our team to find out how we can help you stay on top of your team’s training requirements in 2023.
