Download OHS Body of Knowledge chapters
Chapter Resources
Explore each chapter from the links provided below. You will find a detailed overview, download options, author details, learning objectives, and additional resources for each chapter. Please download the chapters individually. It is recommended to start with the 1.3 Synopsis and 2 Introduction sections, which provide essential background information for all chapters.
Be aware of the copyright requirements and the disclaimer prior to use.
We regularly review and update the OHS BoK chapters to ensure the content remains current. For the latest changes and updates per chapter, see the news or follow the OHS BoK on LinkedIn.
Resources
The resources listed under chapter headings provide a quick reference for supporting information on the practical application or extension of chapter topics.
Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes provide guidance to OHS educators, students and professionals regarding the application of the OHS Body of Knowledge in the completion of OHS core activities.
| Chapter | Title | Author | Current Version | View Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Foreword, acknowledgments | 2024 | View Chapter | |
| 1.2 | Contents | 2024 | View Chapter | |
| 1.3 | Synopsis of the OHS Body of Knowledge | 2024 | View Chapter | |
| 2 | Introduction | Pam Pryor | 2019 | View Chapter |
| The OHS Professional | ||||
| 3 | The Generalist OHS Professional: International and Australian Perspectives | Pam Pryor, David Provan, Tristan Casey and Xiaowen Hu | 2021 | View Chapter |
| Global concepts | ||||
| 4 | Work | Mike Rafferty and Sally Wright | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 5 | Safety | Sidney Dekker | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 6 | Health | David Beaumont | 2021 | View Chapter |
| The Human | ||||
| Biology and Physiology | ||||
| 7.1 | The Human: As a Biological System | Kelly Johnstone, Keith Adam, Mike Capra and Joanne Crawford | 2021 | View Chapter |
| Psychology | ||||
| 8.1 | The Human: Basic psychological principles | Carlo Capponechia | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 8.2 | The Human: Basic principles of social interaction | Bill Pappas, Carlo Capponechia and Eleanor H. Wertheim | 2012 | View Chapter |
| Socio-political context | ||||
| 9.1 | Socio-political Context for OHS in Australia | Liz Bluff | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 9.2 | Work Health and Safety Law in Australia | Neil Foster, Barry Sherriff, Eric Windholtz, Leo Ruschena | 2020 | View Chapter |
| The Organisation | ||||
| 10.1 | The Organisation | Michael Griffiths, Debra Burlington | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 10.2.1 | Organisational Culture: A Search for Meaning | David Borys | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 10.2.1B | Appendix Organisational Culture: Thematic analysis of data from interviews and focus groups | 2014 | View Chapter | |
| 10.2.2 | Organisational Culture: Reviewed and Repositioned | David Borys | 2020 | View Chapter |
| Systems | ||||
| 12.1 | Systems | Paul M Salmon, Gemma J.M. Read, Adam Hulme | 2023 | View Chapter |
| 12.2 | OHS Management Systems | Nektarios Karanikas, Pam Pryor | 2021 | View Chapter |
| 12.3.1 | Rules and procedures | David Provan, Andrew Rae | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 12.3.2 | Document Usability | Klaus Hofer | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 12.4 | Contractor Management | Sue Bottrell and Jon Harper Slade | 2026 | Coming Soon |
| 12.6.1 | Investigations | Geoff Dell, Yvonne Toft, Ivan Cikara, David Skegg and Shevaun Dell | 2024 | View Chapter |
| 12.6.2 | Guide to Investigations | Geoff Dell, Yvonne Toft, Ivan Cikara, David Skegg and Shevaun Dell | 2024 | View Chapter |
| 12.7 | Chain of Responsibility | Jo Flitcroft, Greg Cain, Nathan Cecil, John Daymon, Kym Farquharson-Jones, Denise Zumpe | 2025 | View Chapter |
| 13 | Managing process safety | Trish Kerin | 2025 | View Chapter |
| Hazards | ||||
| 14 | Foundation Science | Pam Pryor and Mike Capra | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 15 | Hazard as a Concept | Pam Pryor | 2024 | View Chapter |
| 16 | Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders | David Trembearth and Joanne Crawford | 2021 | View Chapter |
| 17.1 | Chemical Hazards | Susanne Tepe, Dino Pisanielle and Terry Elms | 2023 | View Chapter |
| 17.2 | Health effects of Hazardous Chemicals | Mike Capra and Scott Hahn | 2023 | View Chapter |
| 17.3 | Dusts, Fumes & Fibres | Linda Apthorpe, Dr Shahnaz Bakand, Dr Jennifer Hines, Leanne Treadwell, Jane Whitelaw | 2023 | View Chapter |
| 17.4 | Process Hazards (Chemical) | Trish Kerin | 2025 | View Chapter |
| 18 | Biological Hazards | Amanda Jones | 2021 | View Chapter |
| 19 | Psychosocial hazards | Kïrsten A Way | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 20 | Fatigue | Jessica L Paterson, Sally A Ferguson and Drew Dawson | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 21 | Bullying and violence | Carlo Caponecchia, Kïrsten A Way | 2021 | View Chapter |
| 22.1 | Occupational Noise | Beno Groothof | 2024 | View Chapter |
| 22.2 | Vibration | Beno Groothof | 2024 | View Chapter |
| 23.1 | Electricity | Leo Ruschena | 2021 | View Chapter |
| 23.2 | Electricity Appendix - Arc Flash | Brett Cleaves | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 24 | Ionising Radiation | Martin L Ralph | 2021 | View Chapter |
| 25 | Non-Ionising Radiation – Electromagnetic | Leo Ruschena and Martin L Ralph | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 26 | Thermal Environment | Ross DiCorleto | 2026 | View Chapter |
| 27 | Gravitational Hazards | Neil Adams | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 28 | Mechanical Plant | Roger Lim, Tony Payne | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 29 | Mobile Plant | Gloria Kyriacou Morosinotto | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 30 | Vehicles and occupational road use | Rwth Stuckey | 2019 | View Chapter |
| Risk | ||||
| 31.1 | Risk | Jean Cross | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 31.2 | OHS risk and decision making | Carmel Bofinger, Jan Hayes, Chris Bearman, Derek Viner | 2019 | View Chapter |
| Causation | ||||
| 32 | Models of causation: Safety | Yvonne Toft, Geoff Dell, Karen K Klockner and Allison Hutton | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 33 | Models of causation: Health determinants | Wendy Macdonald | 2012 | View Chapter |
| Control | ||||
| 34.1 | Prevention and intervention | Leo Ruschena | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 34.2 | User-Centered Safe Design approach to control | Tim Horberry, Robin Burgess-Limerick, Neil Storey, Matthew Thomas, Leo Ruschena, Margaret Cook, Chad Pettitt | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 34.3 | Health and safety in design | Australian Institute of Health and Safety | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 34.4 | Design of work | Lisette Kanse and Laura Fruhen | 2022 | View Chapter |
| 35 | Mitigation of health impacts | Australian Institute of Health and Safety with Australian New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 36 | Emergency management | Andrew Stanbury | 2019 | View Chapter |
| Practice | ||||
| 37.1 | Introduction to ‘practice’ as a concept | Phil Turner | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 37.2 | A problem-solving model of OHS practice | Pam Pryor and Susanne Tepe | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 37.4 | Workers Working from Home | Pam Pryor and David Provan | 2020 | View Chapter |
| Professional attributes | ||||
| 38.3 | Ethics and Professional Practice | Australian Institute of Health and Safety | 2019 | View Chapter |
| Professional skills | ||||
| 39.1 | The OHS professional as a ‘critical consumer’ of research | Andrew Rae, Anne Statham and Pam Pryor | 2023 | View Chapter |
| 39.3 | The OHS Professional as a Workplace Influencer | Cassandra Madigan, Debra Burlington, Eldeen Pozinak and Greg Dearsly | 2026 | Coming Soon |
| Comprehensive Perspectives on Occupational Road Use | ||||
| 40.1 | Occupational Road Use: A Holistic Overview | Rwth Stuckey and Nicholas Mabbot | 2026 | Coming Soon |
| 40.2 | Heavy Vehicle Operations and Safety | Marilyn Hubner and Ivan Cikara | 2026 | Coming Soon |
| 40.3 | Safety for Vulnerable Road Users | Simon Albery and Caitlin Taylor | 2026 | Coming Soon |
| 40.4 | Mental Health and Well Being of Occupational Road Users | Marilyn Hubner and Alastair Milne | 2026 | Coming Soon |
| 40.5 | Investigating Occupational Incidents and Crashes | Scott Govers and Ivan Cikara | 2026 | Coming Soon |
Chapters – In Progress
| Chapter | Title | Author | Current Version | View Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The OHS Professional | ||||
| Global concepts | ||||
| The Human | ||||
| Biology and Physiology | ||||
| Psychology | ||||
| 8.1 | The Human: Basic psychological principles | Carlo Capponechia | Under review | View Chapter |
| 8.2 | The Human: Basic principles of social interaction | Bill Pappas, Carlo Capponechia and Eleanor H. Wertheim | Under review | View Chapter |
| Socio-political context | ||||
| 9.2 | Work Health and Safety Law in Australia | Neil Foster, Barry Sherriff, Eric Windholtz, Leo Ruschena | Under review | View Chapter |
| The Organisation | ||||
| Systems | ||||
| 12.4 | Contractor safety management | Out for Peer Review | Coming Soon | |
| Hazards | ||||
| 19 | Psychosocial hazards | Kïrsten A Way | Under review | View Chapter |
| 20 | Fatigue | Jessica L Paterson, Sally A Ferguson and Drew Dawson | Under review | View Chapter |
| 21 | Bullying and violence | Carlo Caponecchia, Kïrsten A Way | Under review | View Chapter |
| 23.2 | Electricity Appendix - Arc Flash | Brett Cleaves | Under review | View Chapter |
| 29 | Mobile plant | Gloria Kyriacou Morosinotto | Under review | View Chapter |
| 30 | Vehicles and occupational road use | Rwth Stuckey | Under review | View Chapter |
| Risk | ||||
| Causation | ||||
| Control | ||||
| Practice | ||||
| 37.1 | Introduction to ‘practice’ as a concept | Under review | View Chapter | |
| Professional attributes | ||||
| 38.3 | Ethics and Professional Practice | Australian Institute of Health and Safety | Under review | View Chapter |
| Professional skills | ||||
| 39.3 | The OHS Professional as a workplace influencer | Out for Peer Review | Coming Soon | |