An international benchmark for the Australian OHS Body of Knowledge (BoK)

Paul, Gunther, and Pearse, Warwick (2016) An international benchmark for the Australian OHS Body of Knowledge (BoK). Safety Science, 81. pp. 13-24.

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Abstract

Benchmarking was used to compare the Australian SIA's (Safety Institute of Australia) OHS BoK with three different approaches to systemize the knowledge that should be taught by universities. The Australian Health and Safety Professionals Alliance (HaSPA) Core Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professionals was benchmarked against three other international bodies of knowledge, the German Ergonomic Society's Body of Knowledge Ergonomics – Core Definition, Object Catalogue and Research Domains, the IEEE Computer Society Software Engineering Body of Knowledge and the American 'Association of Schools of Public Health' Master's Degree in Public Health Core Competency Model.

It was found that quality, structure and content of the OHS BoK ranked lowest when compared with the other benchmarked documents. The HaSPA body of knowledge was ranked poorly when compared to the German Ergonomic Society's Body of Knowledge for Ergonomics, IEEE Computer Society Software Engineering Body of Knowledge and the American Association of Schools of Public Health Core Competency Model. Analysis and discussion of the HaSPA BoK is important given its use as an audit tool for tertiary education in Australia. Furthermore the International Network of Safety & Health Practitioner Organisations (INSHPO) is apparently promoting the Australian SIA's OHS BoK as the basis of an international standard.

Item ID: 48324
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0925-7535
Keywords: body of knowledge, ergonomics, work health and safety, Safety Institute of Australia Ltd, Professional certification, university accreditation
Date Deposited: 06 Apr 2017 06:14
FoR Codes: 35 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 3505 Human resources and industrial relations > 350505 Occupational and workplace health and safety @ 100%
SEO Codes: 93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9305 Education and Training Systems > 930501 Education and Training Systems Policies and Development @ 100%
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