The School of Safety Science was formally established in the Faculty of Engineering at NSW in 1986 as the Centre for Safety Science. When it transferred to the Faculty of Applied Science in 1991 it was renamed the Department of Safety Science. In June 1997, the Faculty of Applied Science was disestablished and parts of it, including the Department of Safety Science, were reconstituted in the new Faculty of Science and Technology. In 1998, to accommodate future growth and to bring its name in line with with its administrative structure, the Department became the School of Safety Science. In July 2001, the Faculty of Science and Technology was disestablished, and the School was merged into the new Faculty of Science. The School undertakes research and provides programs in areas related to Occupational and Health Safety, Ergonomics, and Environmental studies.

The School has ten full time academic staff who are specialists in Safety Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Ergonomics, Human Behaviour, and Risk Management. Experts in other specialist areas, such as Occupational Health and Safety Law, are associated with the School and teach in the coursework programs.

By bringing together staff from widely different backgrounds into a single academic unit dedicated to teaching and research in safety and health and the environment, the School is able to offer well coordinated courses which are the broadest based of any offered in Australia.

The School has close links with other schools throughout the University which provide related courses so can provide a focus for the University's postgraduate teaching and research in areas related to occupational and environmental safety and health.

The School has laboratory facilities for research into biomechanics, ergonomics, usability, chemical hazards, and toxicology. It also undertakes industry based research in risk management, quality management, and attitudinal and behavioural change.