Programme design dimensions explored for a professional occupational safety and health management qualification for Africa

Abstract

Workplace injuries and illnesses cost companies huge amounts in wasteful and often preventable expenses. Hazards can be eliminated and controlled through proper education in production and operations management (POM) and occupational, safety and health (OSH), yet no South African higher education institution provide this need. The complexity and multi-disciplinary nature of the OSH profession is fundamental to the problem. The research report discusses the problem in terms of the need, the large scope of the OSH function, contents (curricula) of a proposed OSH degree and programme implementation realities. The problem was explored by means of a mixed method survey including two questionnaire surveys. The results created a hypothesis for further investigation, but the exploratory qualitative investigation clearly indicates the need for degrees in POM (with several OSH based modules) and a similar qualification with specialisation in OSH. The comprehensive secondary research survey supported the findings and only a few new developments were identified that will not influence the OSH curricula significantly. Both questionnaire surveys confirmed the proposed OSH qualification and the feedback from industry experts indicated the urgency for an OSH degree and provided potential solutions to implementing such a qualification. Key words: Workplace injuries, higher education, the occupational, safety and health (OSH) function, production and operations management (POM) and occupational, safety and health (OSH) degrees, degree qualification, programme implementation.