Download the Body of Knowledge chapters
Each chapter is downloaded separately. However users are advised to read the 1.3 Synopsis and 2 Introduction which provide background to the information contained in individual chapters.
Readers should also note the copyright requirements and the disclaimer before using or acting on the information.
Each chapter page includes an overview of the chapter, the chapter for download, information about the author, learning outcomes and a range of resources.
For a quick summary of the chapters including key words and abstracts click here for a summary document
As you will see from the list below and the contents we have been reviewing and updating the OHS BoK chapters.
See a summary of the changes for each chapter.
| Chapter | Title | Author | Current Version | View Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Foreword, acknowledgments | 2019 | View Chapter | |
| 1.2 | Contents | 2020 | View Chapter | |
| 1.3 | Synopsis of the OHS Body of Knowledge | 2019 | View Chapter | |
| 2 | Introduction | Pam Pryor | 2019 | View Chapter |
| The OHS Professional | ||||
| 3.1 | The generalist OHS professional in Australia | Pam Pryor and Leo Ruschena | 2012- New chapter planned | View Chapter |
| Global concepts | ||||
| 4 | Work | Mike Rafferty and Sally Wright | 2012- New chapter in development | View Chapter |
| 5 | Safety | Sidney Dekker | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 6 | Health | Niki Ellis | 2012- Under review | View Chapter |
| The Human | ||||
| Biology and Physiology | ||||
| 7.1 | The Human: As a biological system | Kelly Johnstone and Keith Adam | 2012 - Under review | View Chapter |
| Psychology | ||||
| 8.1 | The Human: Basic psychological principles | Carlo Capponechia | 2012 - New chapter in development | View Chapter |
| 8.2 | The Human: Basic principles of social interaction | Bill Pappas, Carlo Capponechia and Eleanor H. Wertheim | 2012 - New chapter in development | 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 | Andrew Hopkins, John Toohey, Dennis Else, Bob Stacy, David Borys, Susanne Tepe | 2012 - New chapter in development | 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 |
| 10.3 | Governance and OHS | Future Chapter | ||
| Systems | ||||
| 12.1 | Systems | David Borys, Steve Cowley, Susanne Tepe, Andrew Morrell, Wendy Macdonald | 2012 - New chapter in development | View Chapter |
| 12.2 | OHS Management Systems | Future Chapter | ||
| 12.3.1 | Rules and procedures | David Provan, Andrew Rae | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 12.3.2 | Usability of Procedures | Klaus Hofer | Future Chapter | |
| 12.4 | Contractor management | Future Chapter | ||
| 12.5 | OHS performance evaluation | Future Chapter | ||
| 12.6 | Investigations | Future Chapter | ||
| 13 | Managing process safety | Trish Kerin | 2019 | View Chapter |
| Hazards | ||||
| Basics | ||||
| 14 | Foundation Science | Pam Pryor and Mike Capra | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 15 | Hazards as a concept | Pam Pryor | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 16 | Biomechanical Hazards | Robin Burgess Limerick | 2012- New chapter in development | View Chapter |
| Chemical Hazards | ||||
| 17 | Chemical Hazards | Dino Pisaniello and Susanne Tepe | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 17.2 | Dusts, fibres and particles | Future Chapter | ||
| 17.3 | Management of chemical hazards | Future Chapter | ||
| 17.4 | Process Hazards (Chemical) | Trish Kerin | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 18 | Biological Hazards | Geoff Newman-Martin | 2012 | View Chapter |
| Psychosocial Hazards | ||||
| 19 | Psychosocial hazards and occupational stress | Kïrsten A Way | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 20 | Fatigue | Jessica L Paterson, Sally A Ferguson and Drew Dawson | 2020 | View Chapter |
| 21 | Bullying, aggression and violence | Kïrsten A Way | 2012 | View Chapter |
| Physical Hazards | ||||
| 22.1 | Occupational Noise | Beno Groothof | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 22.2 | Vibration | Beno Groothof | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 23.1 | Electricity | Leo Ruschena | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 23.2 | Electricity Appendix - Arc Flash | Brett Cleaves | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 24 | Ionising Radiation | Martin L Ralph | 2012 | View Chapter |
| 25 | Non-Ionising Radiation – Electromagnetic | Leo Ruschena and Martin L Ralph | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 26 | Thermal environment | Ross DiCorleto | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 27 | Gravitational hazards | Neil Adams | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 28 | Plant | Tony Payne | 2012 | 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 - Under review | View Chapter |
| 33 | Models of causation: Health determinants | Wendy Macdonald | 2012 - Under review | View Chapter |
| Control | ||||
| 34.1 | Control: 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 | Future 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 | 2012 - Under review | View Chapter | |
| 37.2 | A problem-solving model of OHS practice | Pam Pryor and Susanne Tepe | 2019 | View Chapter |
| 37.3 | OHS professional practice for the 2020s | Future Chapter | ||
| 37.4 | Workers Working from Home | Pam Pryor and David Provan | 2020 | View Chapter |
| Professional attributes | ||||
| 38.1 | Working in organisations | Future Chapter | ||
| 38.2 | Leadership and the OHS professional | Future Chapter | ||
| 38.3 | Ethics and Professional Practice | Australian Institute of Health and Safety | 2019 | View Chapter |
| Professional attributes | Future Chapter | |||
| 39.1 | The OHS professional as a ‘critical consumer’ of research | Pauline Zardo and Pam Pryor | 2012 - Under review | View Chapter |
| 39.2 | The OHS Professional as a workplace researcher | Future Chapter | ||