Overview
This unit is designed to equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary trends in the regulation and management of health and safety in organisations. You will explore legal liability for health and safety and examine contemporary statutory developments regarding prevention. In addition, you will become acquainted with modern corporate governance and due diligence requirements which provide the impetus for the implementation of effective risk-based health and safety management and its integration with organisational business processes.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Discussion between unit coordinator and unit lecturers.
Review assessment.
The assessment will be reviewed to determine whether it is too complex for the unit.
Feedback from Discussion between unit coordinator and unit lecturers.
Inclusion of ALC
As the unit cohort is increasingly comprising Master of Public Health students, who take this unit as one of their electives, consideration will be given to including ALC sessions to outline and reinforce academic integrity matters and general assessment writing skills.
- Interpret and apply legal concepts, processes and procedures relevant to liability for exposure to health and safety risks
- Apply the work health and safety regulatory framework to determine legal liability
- Outline the elements of an effective risk-based safety management system
- Design, develop and implement a risk-based safety management system
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a risk-based safety management system
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Case Study - 40% | |||||
| 2 - Report - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.j.meredith@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Introduction to unit
Chapter
• Lutchman, C, Maharaj, R & Ghanem, W 2012, Safety Management : A Comprehensive Approach to Developing a Sustainable System, Taylor & Francis, London. Chapters 7 & 8
• Johnstone, R & Tooma, M, 2022, Work Health and Safety Regulation in Australia, The Federation Press, Sydney. Chapter 1
• Supplementary readings in Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the primary duty of care
Chapter
• Johnstone, R & Tooma, M, Work Health and Safety Regulation in Australia, The Federation Press, Sydney. Chapter 2
• Supplementary readings in Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Compliance and Risk Management
Chapter
• Johnstone, R & Tooma, M, Work Health and Safety Regulation in Australia, The Federation Press, Sydney. Chapter 2
• Supplementary readings in Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Workplace Consultation
Chapter
• Johnstone, R & Tooma, M, Work Health and Safety Regulation in Australia, The Federation Press, Sydney. Chapter 4
• Supplementary readings in Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Other duties of care:
• corporate officers
• executive officers (Queensland)
• workers
• other persons at a workplace
Chapter
• Johnstone, R & Tooma, M, Work Health and Safety Regulation in Australia, The Federation Press, Sydney. Chapter 3
• Supplementary readings in Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Systematic safety management
Chapter
• AS ISO45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance
for use
• Borys, D, Cowley, S, Tepe, S, Morrell, A & Macdonald, W 2012, 'Systems' in The Core Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professionals, Safety Institute of Australia, Tullamarine, Victoria.
• Karanikas, N & Pryor, P 2021, 'OHS Management Systems' in The Core Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professionals (2nd ed), Australian Institute of Health & Safety, Tullamarine, Victoria.
• Dekker, S 2019, Foundations of Safety Science: A century of understanding accidents and disasters, E-book, CRC Press, London. (suggested reading - Preface).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Independent study
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Leadership and culture
Chapter
• AS ISO45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance
for use
• Borys, D 2019, 'Organisational Culture: A Search for Meaning' in The Core Body of Knowledge for Generalist
OHS Professionals (2nd ed), Australian Institute of Health & Safety, Tullamarine, Victoria.
• Guldenmund, F.W. 2000, ‘The nature of safety culture: a review of theory and research’, Safety Science, vol. 34, pp. 215-257.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Plan (Developing the system)
Chapter
• AS ISO45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance
for use (Parts 6 & 8)
• Ruschena, L 2019, ‘Chapter 34.1 Prevention and Intervention’, in The Core Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professional (2nd edn), Safety Institute of Australia, Tullamarine, Victoria.
• Klockner, K & Meredith, P 2020, ‘Measuring Resilience Potentials: A Pilot Program Using the Resilience Assessment Grid’, Safety, vol 6, no. 4, pp. 1-17.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Do (Implementation)
Chapter
• AS ISO45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance
for use (Parts 7 & 8)
• Provan, D & Rae, A 2020, ‘Rules and Procedures’ (2nd edn) in The Core Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professionals, Tullamarine, Victoria, Australian Institute of Health and Safety.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Check (Monitoring the system and performance
evaluation)
Chapter
• AS ISO45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance
for use
• Standards Australia & Standards NZ (SA/SNZ) 2019, Guidelines for auditing management systems (AS/NZS ISO 19011:2019), Standards Australia, Sydney. Sections 1, 2 & 3.
• Auditing OHS Management Systems - Learning Guide Sections 1-3.
• Esposito, P.A. 2009, ‘Safety Audits: Comparing Three Types of Assessments’, Professional Safety Journal, American Society of Safety Engineers, December 2009.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Check (Auditing the system)
Chapter
• AS ISO45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidance
for use
• Standards Australia & Standards NZ (SA/SNZ) 2019, Guidelines for auditing management systems (AS/NZS ISO
19011:2019), Standards Australia, Sydney.
• Robson, L, Macdonald, S, Gray, G, Van Eerd, D.L & Bigelow, P 2012, ' A descriptive study of OHS management auditing methods used by public sector organizations conducting audits of workplaces: Implications for audit reliability and validity', Safety Science, vol 50, pp. 181-189.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Review and independent study (no lecture)
Chapter
Thomas, M.J.W. 2012, A systematic review of the effectiveness of safety management systems, Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Commonwealth of Australia.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
AI message for assessments T1 2026
In developing your assignment, you may consult peer-reviewed journal articles and referenced textbooks. Extensive use of non-peer-reviewed sources of information is strongly discouraged. Students are permitted to use Generative AI for the assessment in the following ways:
•Developing literature search strategies
•Guidance on developing arguments
•Assistance in formatting and grammar
If Generative AI is used in any way, it must be cited as per the CQU Guidelines (Academic Learning Centre). The following statement must be completed and included on the front page of the uploaded assessment:
"I have used (insert technology) to (insert how you used this) in accordance with the requirements of this unit. The reason I used this was to (explain why you used it). The details of how I used it as (insert how). I hereby declare that the submission is an appropriate representation of my individual skills and abilities to meet the requirements of the task/s."
As per academic writing requirements and assessment criteria; citations of information should be of the primary source (i.e statistics returned by AI must be fact-checked and referenced from their original source as well as the AI source).
Failure to cite primary sources as well as AI sources could be considered breach of academic integrity.
Your use of Generative AI must be clearly outlined in an appendix including the prompt used and Generative AI response. Failure to include an appendix may result in academic integrity investigation.
1 Case Study
Weighting: 40%
Using the scenario provided on the unit Moodle site, determine whether any provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (or comparable legislation in Victoria or Western Australia) have been breached. If so, outline which provisions have been breached, how and by whom (2 000 - 2 500 words).
Composition of marks allocation:
- Identification of duty holders, extent of duty and maximum penalties:(10%)
- PCBU
- Officers
- Workers - Cause of incident and identification of breaches, how and by whom. (20%)
- Organisation, written expression and referencing (including style, formatting, coherence, clarity of expression and length) (10%)
Note: Permission to use Generative AI is given for limited purposes to understand/explore course concepts, topics and terms. Please see the 'GenAI: Guidelines for referencing Artificial Intelligence in your assignments' available from the Academic Learning Centre and please refer to the CQUniversity guideline on AI Awareness for Academic Integrity V2 as it relates to plagiarism.
The AI Assessment Scale (Perkins, Furze, Roe & MacVaugh, 2024, The AI Assessment Scale) is provided as an attachment in the assessment block in Moodle.
Level of GenAI use allowed (AI Assessment Scale):
Level of GenAI use allowed:
- Level 3: AI Collaboration
AI may be used to help complete the task, including idea generation, drafting, feedback, and refinement. Students should critically evaluate and modify the AI suggested outputs, demonstrating their understanding.
You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Week 6 Friday (17 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026)
Relevance
- Depth of understanding in formulating responses to the assigned task
- Alignment of responses to the assigned task
- Connections between discussion and evidence
Validity
- Depth and extent of discussion: i.e. understanding of concepts and evidence
- Accuracy and originality of the discussion
- Judgement and reasoning: i.e. assertions made based on level of critical thought, analysis and synthesis
- Depth and extent of evidence used
Organisation
- Consideration of required components of the assigned task
- Structure and flow of information
- Coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)
Presentation
- Style and formatting in accordance with required academic standards
- Typographical precision
- Referencing protocols
- Length
A detailed assessment rubric will be available in Moodle.
- Interpret and apply legal concepts, processes and procedures relevant to liability for exposure to health and safety risks
- Apply the work health and safety regulatory framework to determine legal liability
2 Report
Weighting: 30%
Based on the compliance investigation undertaken in Assessment 1, conduct an Enterprise Needs Analysis and prepare a Safety Improvement Plan for the organisation. The aim is to provide a blueprint for a new/enhanced safety management system (SMS) which will facilitate regulatory compliance and best practice after the incident outlined in the scenario. In order to secure the necessary resources to implement your plan you will need to justify your proposals to management. The plan should include specific information relating to each proposed implementation action, time frames, resources, accountabilities, performance indicators, targets and evaluation criteria which will support your justification.
Composition of marks allocation:
Enterprise Needs Analysis
-
- Review of actual and desired performance. (2 marks)
- Gaps and causes identified. (6 marks)
- Proposed interventions identified. (2 marks)
Safety Improvement Plan
-
- Justification of proposal to management. (5 marks)
- Explanation outlining specific information relating to each proposed implementation action. (5 marks)
Academic Rigour (Organisation, Presentation, Relevance, Validity (10 marks)
A detailed assessment rubric will be available in Moodle.
Use a formal report style format with appended charts and tables, where required. Length should be between 1 000 - 1 500 words.
Note: Permission to use Generative AI is given for limited purposes to understand/explore course concepts, topics and terms. Please see the 'GenAI: Guidelines for referencing Artificial Intelligence in your assignments' available from the Academic Learning Centre and please refer to the CQUniversity guideline on AI Awareness for Academic Integrity V2 as it relates to plagiarism.
The AI Assessment Scale (Perkins, Furze, Roe & MacVaugh, 2024, The AI Assessment Scale) is provided as an attachment in the assessment block in Moodle.
Level of GenAI use allowed (AI Assessment Scale):
Level of GenAI use allowed:
- Level 3: AI Collaboration
AI may be used to help complete the task, including idea generation, drafting, feedback, and refinement. Students should critically evaluate and modify the AI suggested outputs, demonstrating their understanding. You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Week 9 Friday (15 May 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Your submission should be submitted in word format only.
Week 11 Friday (29 May 2026)
Assessment Criteria
Relevance
- Depth of understanding in formulating responses to the assigned task
- Alignment of responses to the assigned task
- Connections between discussion and evidence
Validity
- Depth and extent of discussion; ie: understanding of concepts and evidence
- Accuracy and originality of the discussion
- Judgement and reasoning; ie: assertions made based on level of critical thought, analysis and synthesis
- Depth and extent of evidence used
Organisation
- Consideration of required components of the assigned task
- Structure and flow of information
- Coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)
Presentation
- Style and formatting in accordance with required academic standards
- Typographical precision
- Referencing protocols
- Length
A detailed assessment rubric will be available in Moodle.
- Interpret and apply legal concepts, processes and procedures relevant to liability for exposure to health and safety risks
- Apply the work health and safety regulatory framework to determine legal liability
- Outline the elements of an effective risk-based safety management system
- Design, develop and implement a risk-based safety management system
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a risk-based safety management system
3 Written Assessment
Checking that the safety management system has been effectively implemented is generally completed in two parts - monitoring of the organisation's activities and management review of the organisation's performance against safety objectives.
This assessment is in two parts.
1. Development of an Audit Plan (20%)
Based on your reflections of the compliance investigation, the Safety Improvement Plan, and your research on risk controls for the subsystem of operational plant, develop an audit plan for the activity outlined in the scenario.
Notes
1. Your plan should be self-explanatory with an embedded description of the audit scoring criteria and a summary of the context in which the audit will be conducted.
2. Catalogue the auditable criteria in sufficient detail that an auditor will conduct a comprehensive audit.
3. Tailor your audit plan to the scenario and ensure you include the logical evidence-based practice for each criterion (auditable criteria, source reference for each criterion, space for auditor observation, auditor findings and auditor grading for each finding).
4. Auditor grading should use the format of Comment, Observation, Minor non-conformance and Major non-conformance.
There is no particular word limit for this assessment piece because the target is to be comprehensive in identifying the audit criteria and delivering a user-friendly audit plan. A tabulated format (use 'landscape' orientation to present the tabulated information, if necessary) of say 2 pages is suggested.
2. Management Review (10%)
Based on the Safety Improvement Plan, your learnings from the audit plan and the requirements for management review contained in AS/NZS/ISO 45001:2018, write a report to management for their consideration. This report should outline the process followed, from the needs analysis, creation/upgrading of the organisation's SMS and the audit plan.
Document the issues and your recommendations for the relevant management review topics, which should include the following:
- Documents and data on the status of the business
- Key management review issues requiring attention., based on linkages provided between between ‘Objectives, Targets & Performance indicators’ and ‘OHS Performance Measurement’ within the OHS Management System.
- Key factors to be considered for subcontractor management
- Issues in organisational learning from failure
- Key organisational change strategies, and
- Your current AS/NZS/ISO 45001:2018 rollout status within the business for elements associated with the scenario.
Use a formal report style format. Length should be between 1 000 - 1 500 words.
A detailed assessment rubric will be available in Moodle.
Note: Permission to use Generative AI is given for limited purposes to understand/explore course concepts, topics and terms. Please see the 'GenAI: Guidelines for referencing Artificial Intelligence in your assignments' available from the Academic Learning Centre and please refer to the CQUniversity guideline on AI Awareness for Academic Integrity V2 as it relates to plagiarism.
The AI Assessment Scale (Perkins, Furze, Roe & MacVaugh, 2024, The AI Assessment Scale) is provided as an attachment in the assessment block in Moodle.
Level of GenAI use allowed (AI Assessment Scale):
Level of GenAI use allowed:
- Level 3: AI Collaboration
AI may be used to help complete the task, including idea generation, drafting, feedback, and refinement. Students should critically evaluate and modify the AI suggested outputs, demonstrating their understanding. You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (12 June 2026)
Relevance
- Depth of understanding in formulating responses to the assigned task
- Alignment of responses to the assigned task
- Connections between discussion and evidence
Validity
- Depth and extent of discussion; ie: understanding of concepts and evidence
- Accuracy and originality of the discussion
- Judgement and reasoning; ie: assertions made based on level of critical thought, analysis and synthesis
- Depth and extent of evidence used
Organisation
- Consideration of required components of the assigned task
- Structure and flow of information
- Coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)
Presentation
- Style and formatting in accordance with required academic standards
- Typographical precision
- Referencing protocols
- Length
A detailed assessment matrix will be provided on Moodle.
- Outline the elements of an effective risk-based safety management system
- Design, develop and implement a risk-based safety management system
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a risk-based safety management system
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
