The initial development of the OHS Body of Knowledge was funded by WorkSafe Victoria as part of the OHS Body of Knowledge Project. With the assignment of the copyright of the OHS Body of Knowledge to the Australian Institute of Health & Safety in 2013, the AIHS took on the financial responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and development of the OHS Body of Knowledge.
The Australian Institute of Health & Safety now supports and funds the OHS Body of Knowledge. There are limitations to the financial support the AIHS is able to provide which limits the ongoing development of the OHS Body of Knowledge.
There are opportunities for organisations to support the OHS Body of Knowledge and so contribute to the knowledge base that informs OHS practice. All organisations supporting the OHS Body of Knowledge are recognised in a format agreed between the AIHS-Body of Knowledge and the organisation.
Contributions to specific chapters
Organisations may choose to support development of a specific chapter of the OHS Body of Knowledge. Such organisations benefit by being linked with the development of leading-edge thinking in OHS. This not only enhances company reputation but stimulates engagement in OHS internally with a positive impact on OHS within the organisation.
Funding organisations may be involved in a number of ways including:
- Having a representative on the Topic Specific Technical Panel
- Priority participation in any workshops/focus groups
- Company name and logo included in the published version of the chapter and any presentation on the chapter topic
- Foreword by the company Chief Executive Officer included in the published version of the chapter
- Access to any webinars conducted as part the dissemination of the chapter
- A presentation on the chapter content and implications for practice for the company executive.
Provision of funding does not mean that the chapter is written to the requirements or context of the funding body, nor does it give the funding body any right to ‘approve’ the chapter content or make a claim to copyright or intellectual property.
Support through an Enforceable Undertaking
OHS legislation in most Australian states allows for Enforceable Undertakings as remedies for certain types of legislative breaches.
Each regulator requires that EUs meet three requirements:
- Benefit to the workplace
- Benefit to the industry
- Benefit to the community.
As a component of an EU, the OHS Body of Knowledge:
- Benefits the workplace, industry and the community;
- Has both national and international impact
- Adds a legacy aspect to any EU through its ongoing currency and enduring impact.
The WHS regulators in Victoria, NSW and Queensland have stated their support for the inclusion of the OHS Body of Knowledge in EUs.
Click here for information for lawyers and employers on the OHS Body of Knowledge and Enforceable Undertakings.
Click here for more information about the benefits of corporate support