Occupational Hygiene Advisor

Occupational Hygiene Advisor – Weipa, Queensland

• Exciting opportunity to champion occupational hygiene and lead exposure reduction projects
• Permanent full time employment role supporting the Weipa Operation, Queensland
• Option for 9 day fortnight, compressed work week
• Periodic travel will be required to go to Amrun

We are looking for an Occupational Hygiene Advisor to provide and coordinate occupational hygiene services for the Weipa operations. You will champion occupational hygiene and coordinate projects that lead to exposure reduction.

This role is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic qualified occupational hygienist to make a positive impact on the health profile of our workforce.

We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry’s best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.

Working in a challenging and exciting environment as a valued member of the Weipa HSE Team, you will be:

• Educating, communicating and engaging with Rio Tinto HSE groups, site leaders and operational personnel
• Analysing hygiene data and ensuring compliance with the Rio Tinto Health standards, HSEC Framework and legislative requirements
• Investigating situations of occupational over-exposure and / or incidence of adverse health effects
• Identifying and leading process improvements to standardise and simplify hygiene processes
• Developing and executing annual risk-based monitoring plans
• Recommending key control methods (considering the hierarchy of control) for occupational hygiene risk reduction and evaluate control effectiveness
• Undertaking personal exposure monitoring, water monitoring and health surveillance as required
• Continually develop, implement and review policies and procedures relating to health and hygiene
• Leading annual and legislative reporting

About you

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Full Membership of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (MAIOH); or
• hold an equivalent competency under an international certification scheme);
• An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8 or above qualification (i.e. bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, masters degree, or doctoral degree) in occupational hygiene with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the field of occupational hygiene.
• Completed the course; BSBWHS419 Contribute to implementing WHS monitoring processes required to carry out respirable dust monitoring for Queensland coal, mineral mines and quarries.
• Strong understanding of Occupational Hygiene risks with previous experience in mining being highly regarded
• High level of technical and practical skills in Occupational Hygiene
• Working knowledge of QLD mining health and safety legislation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently but effectively in a cross functional team
• Analytical capability 
• Manual driver’s license

It will also be beneficial if you have:

• Experience with Cority (formerly Medgate)
• Experience with Chemalert
• Previous experience in the development, and execution of, large mine site-wide exposure monitoring strategies
• Involvement with incident investigations and risk assessment techniques

What we offer

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Company provided insurance cover
• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options
• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
• Possible domestic relocation assistance

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive. We have been mining for almost 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.

Where you’ll be working

Our Weipa Operations includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, ship loaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. Located on the Western Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, each year the operation produces more than 35 million tonnes of bauxite.

Our operations are supported by a 1,900-strong workforce—including 26 per cent who are women and 25 per cent Indigenous employees. Activities include mine operations, maintenance, asset management, ports, cultural heritage management, and processing facility management.

The development of our new mine, Amrun, which was completed in 2018, will extend the life of our Weipa bauxite operations by decades to come and significantly build on our 55-year history on the Western Cape.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.