All 2U/edX courses Overview What you'll learn Modules FAQs

Overview

Understanding and implementing occupational health and safety (OHS) measures is a crucial aspect of maintaining a productive and safe workplace. However, many organisations struggle to maintain their legal obligations in safety management or are uncertain about initiating effective OHS strategies. To bridge this knowledge gap, the University of Cape Town (UCT) created the comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety online short course. This course is designed to equip individuals with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, essential for fostering high standards of OHS in various organisational settings.

Spanning 10 weeks, this UCT OHS online short course delves into key areas such as defining a health and safety policy and conducting thorough workplace risk assessments in alignment with South Africa's legislative framework for OHS. The curriculum is tailored to be universally applicable, making it relevant across all industries and adaptable to any business context. This feature makes the course an invaluable resource for individuals aiming to enhance their career prospects by leading OHS initiatives within their organisations.

This health and safety course is ideal for a diverse range of professionals – from those who have been engaged in health and safety roles to newcomers aspiring to enter this field. Business leaders who are committed to promoting employee safety and satisfaction, while ensuring compliance with legislative standards, will also find this course beneficial. You'll gain essential skills to enhance workplace safety and create a productive environment for all employees. You will learn to conduct risk assessments, compile investigative reports, and manage various workplace hazards, stressors, and incidents effectively. The course, endorsed by Saiosh, enables you to oversee OHS training in your organisation, ensuring legal compliance with South Africa's Occupational Health and Safety Act.

What you'll learn

Acquire valuable and relevant occupational health and safety skills, and walk away with:

• Essential occupational health and safety skills relevant to your field
• An understanding of how to enhance workplace safety, boosting employee satisfaction and engagement
• Knowledge to ensure business compliance with South Africa's Occupational Health and Safety Act
• The ability to create policies that improve company performance and profit by minimising workplace injuries
• A broad understanding of OHS principles applicable in various sectors and contexts
• Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, providing exclusive resources and events for professional development and career advancement

Modules

ORIENTATION MODULE Welcome to your Online Campus
Meet and engage with your learning and peer networks as you navigate the Online Campus.

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.

FAQs: Occupational health and safety career path