About the OHS Body of Knowledge
The OHS Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professionals (OHS BoK) was developed in response to an identified need to define the collective knowledge that should be shared by Australian Generalist OHS Professionals as a basis for understanding the causation and control of work-related fatality, injury, disease and ill-health.
With reference to key papers, each chapter of the OHS BoK gives a synoptic overview of a concept, its development and its application to understanding the causation and control of work-related fatality, injury, disease and ill-health (FIDI).
The Body of Knowledge is not a textbook detailing all that the OHS professional needs to know; rather, it takes conceptual approach, providing a ‘picture’ of current thinking that highlights they key concepts and how thinking on these evolved.
Australian Institute of Health & Safety
Having funded the first edition of the OHS Body of Knowledge, WorkSafe Victoria assigned the copyright to the Safety Institute of Australia. The Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) now ‘owns’ the publication and supports its ongoing maintenance and development to ensure it reflects current OHS research and practice. The OHS Body of Knowledge is the foundation of the AIHS Capability Agenda
Manager OHS BoK
With a military background and qualifications in education and OHS, Marilyn specialises in activities around OHS capability and related aspects of OHS training and competency. In her current role as Manager OHS Body of Knowledge Marilyn focuses on the ongoing maintenance and further development of the OHS Body of Knowledge and associated resources.
OHS BoK Advisory Panel
The role of the OHS Body of Knowledge Advisory Panel is to provide high level oversight of the OHS Body of Knowledge to ensure that it is fit-for-purpose in defining the ‘special knowledge’ that underpins OHS professional education and continuing professional development. Panel membership includes OHS professionals, OHS academics and OHS educators.
OHS Accreditation Board
The Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board has role in ensuring that the priorities for new chapters and the review schedule for existing chapters takes account of priority topics for OHS education and monitoring and providing feedback so that the quality and evidence-base in individual chapters reflects current OHS research and leading edge thinking and so provides a suitable standard for OHS education.
Funding for the OHS Body of Knowledge
Organisations or individuals wishing to discuss support for the OHS Body of Knowledge should contact the Manager OHS Body of Knowledge manager@ohsbok.org.au
AIHS Corporate Membership
Organisations that become corporate members of the AIHS may choose to direct all or part of their support to the OHS Body of Knowledge. Information on AIHS corporate membership.
Organisational support
Organisations including companies, regulators, universities and others may choose to support development of a specific chapter of the OHS Body of Knowledge. Information on corporate support for OHS BoK.
Support through an Enforceable Undertaking
OHS legislation in most Australian states allows for Enforceable Undertakings as remedies for certain types of legislative breaches. Information on Enforceable Undertakings as support for OHS BOK.