Schedule 2 -Position Description
Position Name: Safety Business Partner – Field Worker
Incumbent: Vacant
Position Number: 6036
Directorate: Organisational Services
Team: People, Safety & Wellbeing
Position Status: Permanent Full Time
Classification: Queensland Local Government Industry (Stream A) Award
Current Level: 5
Located: Longreach
Revised: March 2026
Our Vision
Connecting Council and Community
Our Mission
Delivering Excellent Services
Our Values
1. A Safe and Healthy Work Environment
2. Inclusiveness and Respect
3. Consistency and Fairness
4. Teamwork and Staff Development
5. Performance and Value for Money
6. Leadership and Collaboration
7. Sustainability
8. Forward-looking
Position Objective
The Safety Business Partner provides professional, practical, and trusted work health and safety (WHS) support
across the organisation, with a strong emphasis on uplifting supervisor capability, confidence, and consistency in
fulfilling safety duties. Initially, the role focuses on coaching and supporting supervisors to apply WHS
requirements in day-to-day operations. As capability matures, the role undertakes a broader business partnering
and prevention focus, including surveillance audits, site inspections, review of job management plans (JMPs),
analysis of trends, and management of non-conformances.
Position Responsibilities
Functional Areas Key Accountabilities
Business Partnering and
Prevention Activities
* Undertake planned and reactive surveillance audits, inspections, and safety
observations across worksites, facilities, and projects.
* Review safety related material within Job Management Plans (JMPs), Safe
Work Method Statements (SWMS), risk assessments, and related
documentation for quality, practicality, and compliance.
* Identify systemic issues, emerging risks, and opportunities for prevention
and improvement.
* Provide clear, balanced advice to leaders that considers operational
realities, workforce capability, and safety outcomes.
* Use checklists and digital tools to document findings and observations.
Data from findings and observations will be used in trends analysis to
inform opportunities for betterment and improvement.
* Analyse WHS data, audit results, and inspection findings to identify trends
and systemic issues.
* Prepare clear and concise reports for supervisors, managers, and
governance forums.
* Contribute to the development and review of WHS procedures, tools,
templates, and guidance materials.
* Support continuous improvement initiatives aligned with organisational
safety objectives.
Incident Learning & Non-
Conformance Management
* Support a psychologically safe environment for incident, hazard, and
near‑miss reporting.
* Assist with incident investigations with a focus on:
o Learning
o System improvement
o Human and organisational factors
* Log, track, and monitor non‑conformances, corrective actions, and
improvement actions in corporate systems.
* Ensure follow‑up actions are practical, risk‑based, and proportionate.
Training & Capacity Building • Act as a trusted WHS advisor to supervisors and team leaders across
operational and administrative functions.
* Coach supervisors in the practical application of WHS legislation,
procedures, risk management, and safe systems of work.
* Support supervisors to confidently:
o Identify hazards and assess risk
o Implement and review controls
o Conduct toolbox talks and pre‑start discussions
o Respond to incidents, hazards, and near misses
* Provide on‑the‑job guidance and feedback during field interactions, site
visits, and operational activities.
* Assist supervisors to understand and meet their WHS obligations without
fear of blame or punitive outcomes.
Other • Build positive working relationships with:
o Supervisors and frontline staff
o Managers and senior leaders
o Human Resources and organisational development teams
o External regulators or consultants (as required)
* Communicate safety information in a clear, respectful, and non-technical
manner suited to the audience.
* Other such relevant duties as required from time to time, which would
generally fall within the scope of this position as directed by your
accountable supervisor.
Key Relationships
Internal
Nature of Relationship Position How it Works
Leadership, Coaching &
Strategic Guidance
Senior Safety Business Partner The Safety Business Partner – Field will:
* Embed safety in day-to-day work,
support supervisors and crews,
gather on-the-ground insight, and
implement the program in real
conditions.
* Translates those priorities into
site/team actions (toolbox topics,
supervisor coaching, verification
activities, local action plans). The Senior Safety Business Partner will:
* Set direction, ensures consistency,
provide escalation pathways, quality-
checks critical outputs, and removes
barriers at management/ELT level.
* Provides leadership, support, and
coaching where required.
* Establishes the annual/quarterly
WHS focus areas (based on risk
profile, incident trends, assurance
outcomes, and organisational
priorities.
Collaboration and Consistency
Alignment & Cultural Integration
People Culture and Safety
Team
* Work collaboratively with Safety
team to deliver consistent advice.
* Contribute to continuous
improvement and support a unified
approach across the organisation.
* Collaborate with People and Culture
to align WHS practices with
organisation values, learning
practices, training programs and
people management processes.
Coaching & Capability Uplift LRC Supervisors and Team
Leaders
* Provides practical, on-the-job WHS
coaching and advice to build
supervisor knowledge, confidence,
and consistency in applying safety
duties
* Supports supervisors through site
visits, conversations, and follow-up
actions in a non-blaming,
learning-focused manner.
Engagement & Support LRC Operational & Field Staff • Engages directly with frontline
employees during site inspections,
audits, and observations to promote
safe work practices.
* Encourage hazard and near-miss
reporting and reinforce a culture of
learning and continuous
improvement.
Advisory & Reporting Managers and Coordinators • Acts as a trusted WHS business
partner by providing advice on risks,
trends, compliance matters, and
improvement opportunities.
* Prepares clear reports and escalates
systemic or significant risks through
appropriate management channels.
External
Nature of Relationship Position How it Works
Professional Liaison (as required) Regulators, Auditors and
External Consultants
* Assists with inspections, audits, or
reviews by providing information,
coordinating site access, and
supporting management responses
Extent of Authority
The Safety Business Partner operates under general direction from the Senior Safety Business Partner and works
with a high level of autonomy in the day-to-day planning and delivery of allocated work. The role is authorised to
provide professional work health and safety advice; undertake site inspections, surveillance audits, and reviews of
job management plans; and to identify, record, and report hazards, risks, non-conformances, and improvement
opportunities within corporate systems. The position exercises professional judgement in recommending
corrective and preventative actions and in coaching supervisors and managers to meet their safety obligations.
The role does not have authority to independently approve expenditure, direct operational activities, alter
organisational policy, or exercise disciplinary powers. Matters involving significant risk, resourcing implications,
policy change, or organisational impact are escalated to the appropriate manager in accordance with council
delegations and governance frameworks.
Delegations and Authorisations
Chief Executive to Employee Delegations and Authorisations
This position exercises powers and functions in accordance with Council’s Delegations and Authorisations Policy,
the Chief Executive Officer to Employee and Contractor Delegations Register, and any Authorised Person/
Authorised Officer Instrument of Employment issued to the role holder. Authority is limited to those delegations
and authorisations formally granted and current at the time of action. The position holder is responsible for
understanding and complying with the scope and conditions of their delegations and for escalating matters
outside delegated authority in accordance with council procedures.
Financial Delegation – Purchasing Officer
This position is assigned a financial delegation of up to $3,000 as a Purchasing Officer (Requisitioner) in
accordance with Council’s Procurement Policy, Procurement Management Procedure, and Corporate Credit Card
Policy. The delegation authorises the creation and management of purchase orders or credit card purchases
within the approved threshold, subject to budget availability and compliance with Council’s procurement
procedures. The position does not hold approval (financial delegate) authority and must obtain approval from an
authorised delegate for purchases exceeding this limit.
Vehicle Authorisation – Classification 4
This position is authorised to use Council-owned or hired motor vehicles under Classification 4 - Business use only
in accordance with Council’s Motor Vehicle Policy and Management Directive – Motor Vehicle Provision and Use.
Vehicle use is limited to approved business purposes and is subject to compliance with all policy conditions, licence
requirements, reporting, and safety obligations. The position does not hold authority to approve vehicle
allocations, usage classifications, or private use.
Position Requirements
Skills
* Proven ability to coach and influence supervisors and frontline leaders.
* Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and prepare clear reports.
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulation (Qld).
* Exposure to just culture, human factors, or learning‑team approaches.
* Knowledge and understanding of Queensland Local Government Business activities.
Mandatory Experience/Qualifications
* Current unrestricted ‘C’ Class Drivers Licence
* Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety or other relevant qualification, or the willingness to undertake
further studies.
* Experience using WHS or corporate systems to record incidents, actions, and audits.
* Demonstrated experience providing practical WHS advice in operational environments.
Desirable Experience/Qualifications
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116) or demonstrated ability to deliver
training/inductions.
* Exposure to operational environments including construction, maintenance, plant, and community
facilities.
Inherent Requirements
These are the essential requirements of this position:
* Combination of office‑based work and regular field/site attendance.
* Exposure to operational environments including construction, maintenance, plant, and community
facilities.
* Requirement to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as applicable.
Vision and Hearing Requirements
This position requires a vision test
This position requires a hearing test
Cognitive Requirements
Frequency (% of working day)
Rare/Never Occasional
0-33%
Frequent
34 – 66%
Constant
> 66%
Working Independently - ability to utilise
autonomy with respect to the processes by
which tasks are completed. Little to no
autonomy with respect to the work allocated to
them by the supervisor
Team Based Work - works in a team of people
and not exposed to isolation
Communicating With Others – Verbal
Communicating With Others - Written
Focused Attention on Task - high levels of
attention required to minimise errors and
ensure accuracy
Concentrating – high levels of concentration
required while completing required tasks
Planning and Sequencing Tasks and Activities -
managing multiple tasks or projects
simultaneously, ensuring that all activities are
completed efficiently and effectively.
Decision Making - required to exercise sound
decision making while completing all aspects of
the position
Problem Solving – requirement to develop
sound solutions to novel or unusual problems
arising during the course of the day
Reasoning - required to exercise sound
reasoning while completing all aspects of the
position within defined scope
Judgement - required to exercise sound
judgement while completing all aspects of the
position within defined scope
Short and Long-term Memory Recall – ready
access to documented procedures or
precedents to perform requirements of the
position
Emotional Resilience - exposure to stressful or
distressing situations including meeting
specified deadlines and production demands,
dealing with aggressive or upset
customers/clients, high conflict situations,
general workload demands, change beyond
individual’s personal control
Interruptions – frequency of interruptions to
daily work plans and requirement to change
work plans at short notice
Workplace Health and Safety Obligations
All employees have a legal obligation to comply with regulatory requirements and LRC– SMS (Longreach Regional
Council’s - Safety Management System) incorporating WH&S policies, procedures and work instructions. These
are introduced to ensure the health and safety of employees, contractors, visitors, volunteers, the public and the
environment and remain compliant with Industry Benchmark Standards.
The following statements apply to all Managers and Supervisors for the supervision of employees, including
permanent, part-time and casual employees. Your responsibilities include:
1. Setting a good example for staff to follow and encourage a positive attitude to health and safety, ensuring
a safe work environment and safe system of work is provided for all employees, contractors, visitors and
volunteers.
2. Comply with the Health and safety duties and Duty of Care requirements as specified within the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011 Part 2 with particular attention to S19 Primary duty of care for Person Conducting
a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) responsibilities.
3. Striving to meet and/or exceed Key Performance Indicator requirements that have been set by
management.
4. To comply with instructions given for WH&S at a workplace by the employer.
5. Ensuring all accidents, incidents, serious bodily injuries, work-related illnesses or dangerous occurrences
and near misses are reported to the WHSA within the required timeframes (within 24 hours of the event)
6. Conducting an investigation and submit a report for any and all accidents or incidents that have occurred
within your area of responsibility within the workplace.
7. Enforcing the wearing of all required uniforms and personal protective equipment, ensuring that the
equipment is worn correctly, after providing proper instruction in its use.
8. Not to willfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided for WH&S at the workplace.
9. Not to willfully place at risk the WH&S of any persons at the workplace including yourself.
10. Adhere to the LRC–SMS by Implementing, maintaining and monitoring the Council’s WH&S Management
Plan and completing relevant Monthly Action Plan items within your area of responsibility;
11. Performing all work and associated functions in a safe, efficient and effective manner;
12. Assisting with the development, implementation and monitoring of departmental WH&S policies,
procedures, work instruction and verbal directions within your area of responsibility;
13. Providing information to employees through team meetings, toolbox talks or information sessions in
relation to WH&S;
14. Instigate and supervise the facilitation of hazard inspections, risk assessments, and the implementation of
corrective action to eliminate hazards where practical and / or control risks in the workplace;
15. Ensuring risk assessments are conducted and recorded for all identified hazards, or prior to the
implementation of new work practices, hazardous substances, or plant. Also, as required, assisting or
participating in the carrying out of risk assessments on identified hazards;
16. Ensuring that no hazardous substance is purchased or used without first carrying out a risk assessment
and gaining approval from the authorised person.
17. Identifying employee training needs and ensuring that no employee is required to undertake a task without
first receiving training in the safe method of work, or adequate safety instructions
18. Establishing and maintaining a high standard of housekeeping within your individual work area(s) and
generally within the Longreach Regional Council’s area of responsibility.
19. Attending any toolbox, team talks or specific training (e.g. Take 5s etc.) as supplied and required by
Longreach Regional Council.
20. Ensuring all employees under your control are aware of first aid locations, fire protection facilities,
evacuation and other emergency procedures.
21. In liaison with the Workplace Rehabilitation Coordinator, implementing rehabilitation procedures and
facilitating early return to work for injured employees. Also assisting with the identification of positions that
are suitable for rehabilitation placements.
22. Attend WH&S Committee meetings as and when required.