Supporting inspectors to meet the evolving demands of workplace safety

Supporting inspectors to meet the evolving demands of workplace safety

Today’s health and safety inspectors do more than ensure compliance. They work alongside employers to promote proactive risk management and cultivate a culture of workplace safety. As the nature of work continues to shift, inspectors must adapt to new challenges, including psychosocial risks, non-traditional employment arrangements, and an increasingly diverse workforce.

Monash Business School, in partnership with ISCRR and WorkSafe Victoria, evaluated WorkSafe’s inspector induction, field mentoring and professional development programs, to understand how well this training supports inspectors in their evolving role. More than 100 inspectors across several training cohorts participated in surveys, tracking their development from induction through to 12 months of professional practice.

The evaluation revealed that each stage of training played a distinct role in building key professional capabilities:

• Induction training boosted inspectors’ hope, career adaptability, and job crafting skills—helping them identify barriers and find ways to work more efficiently and develop their capabilities
• Field mentoring and diploma training strengthened career confidence, decision-making control, and encouraged inspectors to take on challenging tasks that support skill growth
• Professional development further enhanced self-efficacy, assertiveness, and influencing behaviours such as rational persuasion and collaboration.

These findings show that WorkSafe Victoria’s training model is effectively equipping inspectors with the psychological, interpersonal and problem-solving skills needed to navigate complex and changing regulatory environments. By understanding what works and where there’s room to grow, this evaluation helps ensure inspectors are prepared to meet the demands of modern workplace safety, ultimately improving outcomes for Victorian workers and employers alike.