Learn how to foster a health and safety culture at your organisation
10 weeks, excluding
orientation
7-10 hours per week,
entirely online
Weekly modules,
flexible learning
1
An in-depth understanding of South Africa’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and how it relates to your organisation.
2
The ability to implement workplace health and safety measures across industries.
3
The skills to fulfil legal requirements by managing staff training in occupational health and safety.
4
A certificate from Africa’s leading university,1 as proof of your competence in this field.
1 QS Top Universities (Aug, 2021)
GetSmarter is accredited by the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh), a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)-registered professional body for occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals. Saiosh administers professional accreditation and industry insights for OHS professionals in South Africa. By completing this Occupational Health and Safety online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT), you’ll gain locally recognised and Saiosh-endorsed professional skills.
Saiosh has accredited this online short course as meeting the academic requirements for 5 CPD points. As such, students may be eligible to qualify for Saiosh membership at a technical or associate level, depending on their years of work experience. Technical Membership criteria include an accredited certificate at NQF Level 5 or equivalent and two years’ experience. Should students not meet these criteria, they can apply for a non-professional Associate Level Membership, which requires an NQF Level 5 certificate or equivalent and less than two years’ experience.*
*The Saiosh registration board is responsible for determining the grade of students when applying. Thus, GetSmarter and UCT bear no responsibility for the claiming or validation of these endorsed professional skills with Saiosh.
Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:
MODULE 1 Introduction to OHS
Understand the need for good standards of health and safety, and the framework and systems that underpin OHS.
MODULE 2 Organisation of Health and Safety Management
Recognise how an OHS policy and key stakeholders influence health and safety culture and performance.
MODULE 3 Risk Assessment and Control
Show how the risk assessment process is used to control risks.
MODULE 4 Managing Hazards
Identify the control measures required for various hazards.
MODULE 5 Managing Machinery, Power Sources and Other Equipment
Find out how best to manage machinery and other equipment, and their associated risks.
MODULE 6 Managing Hazardous Substances
Identify ways of controlling, transporting, and disposing of hazardous substances.
MODULE 7 Managing Health Stressors and Training
Recognise how best to manage the work environment, and workplace factors affecting employee safety and performance.
MODULE 8 Managing Construction Activities and Incidents
Identify construction-related hazards, and the need to investigate and report accidents and incidents.
MODULE 9 Preventing, Preparing for and Responding to Fires
Assess the best methods of managing fires, taking into account fire safety legislation and standards.
MODULE 10 Managing Health and Safety Performance
Look at the role legislation, standards, and performance measurement play in OHS management.
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.
Lindani Mkhwanazi
Lecturer, Department of Commercial Law, UCT
Mkhwanazi is a lecturer and PhD candidate in the Department of Commercial Law, where he teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He holds a Master of Laws degree specialising in labour law from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Western Cape. In 2019, he gained invaluable experience conducting legal research for full-time and acting Judges at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. Mkhwanazi’s research interests include labour law, social security law, and aspects of company law. His PhD research focuses on extending socioeconomic protection and reducing insecurity for workers in South Africa's formal economy. Over the years, he has taught courses such as Law for Engineers, Business Law I, Labour Law, and Individual Employment Law. He currently convenes the Labour Law course for non-law students at UCT.
“The course was insightful and I got to learn more about occupational health and safety. I’ve applied some of my learnings in my own workplace, which really gave my career a boost.”
– Bongani Mashiya, Diesel Mechanic, Zuva Mining Services
This UCT online short course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter, part of edX. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:
Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time.
Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.