Why are workplaces consolidating work health and safety skills despite the increased stringency of WHS penalties?

By Suj Pillai, Manager – Continuing Professional Education, Swinburne Edge 

Since the increased penalties for offences under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) came into effect on 15 December 20231, organisations are under pressure to comply and rapidly enhance their workforce's skills and capabilities. At Swinburne Edge, we evaluate insights from our professional learning cohorts, including reviewing the types of industries engaging with our courses and learning solutions. These insights are key to our adaptive learning offerings which are collaboratively designed with industry partners and respond to evolving industry needs. One such insight is the recent spike in People and Culture (P&C) enrolments over technical experts directly exposed to potential hazards. Let’s explore what this is telling us about industry:

P&C: A sustainable playbook for risk management 

Since 2020, we've seen a 35% increase in the number of WHS workshop completions, and the overall 4,298 participants (workshops and course participants) during this time primarily consisted of individuals from the following roles and sectors:

  • People & Culture (P&C)
  • HSR representatives and engineering personnel
  • warehousing and logistics
  • biochemical professionals and those working with hazardous materials
  • transport
  • building and construction
  • heavy machinery operations
  • lab technicians.
P&C departments are pivotal in implementing and maintaining workplace safety policies and practices.

While technical, hazard-facing professionals are still enrolling, the increase in P&C professionals enrolling is telling.

Suj Pillai, Manager – Continuing & Professional Education, works with Swinburne Edge industry partners to find optimal learning and innovation solutions and is intrigued by what the data is alluding to.

“While the increase in P&C representatives enrolling into our Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety partly stems from organisations consolidating roles due to redundancies and professional development shifts amid budget pressures, it goes beyond this.

“The significant penalties coming into effect this month, such as those for industrial manslaughter—up to $18 million for corporations and 25 years' imprisonment for individuals—indicate that skills consolidation for cost cutting measures may not be the only motivation.

“There is strategy behind selecting P&C representatives. By moving beyond individual technical expertise, workplaces can enhance their overall effectiveness and encompass entire teams for rapid adoption. P&C plays a crucial role in facilitating this,” Pillai said. 

  • “One critical reason for prioritising P&C in WHS training is their overarching responsibility for the well-being and management of employees.”

    Suj Pillai , Manager – Continuing & Professional Education, Swinburne Edge

The Role of People and Culture and Learning and Development in enhancing work health and safety

Choosing to enhance the skills and capabilities of People and Culture (P&C) and Learning and Development (L&D) departments is a strategic decision that leverages the central role these units play in organisational dynamics. This approach can yield significant benefits in fostering a comprehensive safety culture and ensuring sustained adherence to safety practices across the entire organisation.

One critical reason for prioritising P&C in WHS training is their overarching responsibility for the well-being and management of employees. P&C departments are pivotal in implementing and maintaining workplace safety policies and practices. They are involved in drafting comprehensive safety guidelines tailored to the organisation's needs, ensuring these policies address key safety concerns such as hazardous materials handling, emergency response procedures, and ergonomics. By equipping P&C teams with advanced WHS knowledge, organisations ensure that safety protocols are not only created but also effectively communicated and enforced across all levels of the company.

P&C is also essential in promoting a culture of safety. They play a key role in embedding safety values into the organisational ethos through consistent communication, safety training programs, and awareness campaigns. This can include regular safety updates, safety-themed events, and recognition programs for safe practices2. Such initiatives help keep safety at the forefront of employees’ minds, encouraging a collective commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.

Furthermore, P&C and L&D departments can help bridge the gap between management and employees. They ensure that all employees, regardless of their technical expertise, understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining workplace safety and why it matters. L&D departments ensure training is provided in a language and format that is accessible to all employees, thus ensuring comprehensive understanding and compliance. 

By equipping P&C teams with advanced WHS knowledge, organisations ensure that safety protocols are effectively communicated and enforced.

Why choose Swinburne Edge for Work Health and Safety skills, capabilities and innovation? 

Swinburne Edge offers a range of WHS programs such as a short course Work Health Safety Fundamentals and Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety and Diploma of Work Health and Safety.

Beyond stand-alone courses for professional learners, our Learning Design and Innovation (LDI) team collaborates with organisations to design customised WHS learning programs. This team starts by exploring the challenges the industry is facing with regard to WHS and utilises learning and innovation to solve problems. There are various delivery modes available, and the option for joint KPIs is a unique, outcomes-driven approach to ensuring transformation and impact.

Contact us to learn more about how Swinburne Edge equips workforces with leading skills, capabilities, and innovation in WHS.

P&C is essential in promoting a culture of safety.

1 Safe Work Australia. (n.d.). Changes to WHS laws. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.comcare.gov.au/safehealthy-work/prevent-harm/changes-to-whs-laws

2 HR Future. (n.d.). How HR can help improve and maintain