Program Leader, Safety

The Program Leader Safety is instrumental in shaping and advancing the safety culture
at Blue Mountains City Council. The primary objective of this role is to collaborate closely
with the Manager Safety and Hazardous Materials and the Senior Leadership Team SLT
to educate, implement, review, and enhance the Council’s health and safety protocols in
the workplace. Additionally, this role involves managing and responding to the Council's
daily safety operations alongside the Safety Team.

**RELATIONSHIPS
**Reports to**:Manager Safety and Hazardous Materials

**Report to**:P00979

**Staff Responsibility**:2

**Key Internal Relationships**:All of Council

**Key External Relationships**:

- SafeWork NSW
- Unions
- Workers Compensation
- BMCC’s Contractors
- Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the Safety Team, overseeing the Council’s entire Safety Management System,

including compliance with the WHS Legislation, ISO Standards, programs, reporting,
audits and task assignment.
- Provide high-level advice and support to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for

proactive WHS management, including audits, reviews, and monitoring legislative
changes. Collaborate with the Safety and Hazardous Materials Manager to inform the
SLT on service impacts and conduct regular updates and training sessions.
- In collaboration with service managers, oversee, review, and update WHS Service

Risk Registers, including physical, health, and psychosocial risks.
- Ensure all documentation and record-keeping align and comply with legal

requirements, including maintaining the Council’s documented safety management
system.
- Act as a primary WHS representative at the Council, promoting a culture of curiosity,

education, and collaboration through regular site visits, communications, consultation
forums, feedback solicitation, and issue resolution.
- Partner with the Manager of Safety and Hazardous Materials to implement the

organisational Safety Strategy, ensuring all initiatives are evidence-based, planned,
organised, budgeted, executed, and regularly reviewed and adapted based on
performance data and emerging risks.
- Develop and deliver monitoring and reporting on WHS performance metrics to inform

the SLT on service trends and risks.
- Maximize staff and team use of the Council’s electronic risk management system,

“Vault,” ensuring comprehensive and accurate reporting on incidents, observations,
near misses, investigations, and other WHS events in a timely manner.
- Develop and manage the safety training and workplace inspection programs

efficiently, conducting regular training needs assessments and updating training
programs to ensure continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
- Deliver detailed safety reports, statistical metrics, and data to management and the

executive, and represent the Safety Team on Council committees and work groups as
required, using these reports to consult with workers to learn and continuously
improve.
- Develop, test, and update emergency management plans to ensure the Council is

prepared for and can effectively respond to workplace emergencies.
- Engage with external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, industry groups,

training providers and the community, to enhance WHS practices and ensure
alignment with best practices and regulatory requirements.
- Efficiently allocate and manage resources, including budget and personnel, to support

WHS initiatives and ensure the safety team has the necessary training, tools, PPE and
support to perform their roles effectively.
- Work closely with the Program Leader Hazardous Materials and the Hazardous

Materials Team and model a positive workplace culture within the service.
**Guiding Principles**_- We act as one organisation responding to the changing needs of our LGA and

community
- We are strategy led, driven by our Community Strategic Plan with clear priorities and

focus
- We are service focused & we continuously improve service provision and provide

excellent customer service
- We collaborate and work together to achieve our outcomes
- We ensure safety and well-being is at the centre of our organisation, operations and

culture
- We are a financially sustainable organisation, living within our means, ensuring best

value resource allocation
These Guidelines complement the Council’s adopted Values of: Work Together; Work
Safe Home safe; Service Excellence; Value for Money; Trust and Respect; and,
Supporting Community.

**Workplace Health & Safety**

Ensure compliance with WHS obligations and responsibilities as outlined in Councils
policies and procedures and under the relevant WHS legislation. These include but are
not limited to: identifying potentially unsafe situations or work practices and notifying your
Supervisor or Manager (or the Health, Safety Manager/Area Safety Representative);
never performing a task that you believe is dangerous or for which you do not have the
experience, or have