Bachelor of Health Sciences in Occupational Hygiene
Health Sciences and Social Services - Preventive Health
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The purpose of the four-year professional Bachelor of Health Sciences in Occupational Hygiene qualification is to educate and equip learners with the necessary knowledge, skills, problem-solving abilities, and competencies required to become Occupational Hygienists. Graduates will be able to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control health hazards in the working environment to protect the health and well-being of workers and the community. They will contribute to promoting health and safety in South African workplaces, ensuring compliance with national legislation and supporting international and national initiatives by organizations such as the WHO, ILO, IOHA, DoL, DMR, and SAIOH.
Rationale:
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), approximately 2.3 million workers die each year from occupational accidents or diseases. The ILO and WHO emphasize the importance of protecting workers from health risks in the workplace. The ILO adopted a global strategy in 2003 to improve occupational health and safety, focusing on prevention and technical assistance.
Given the high number of occupational fatalities and the international emphasis on worker health, there is a clear need for a professional degree in Occupational Hygiene to educate and train professionals to address the requirements outlined by the ILO. This qualification aligns with the WHO's Global Plan of Action on Worker's Health (2008-2017), which highlights the need for interventions to prevent and control risks in the workplace and improve access to occupational health services for all workers, including those in informal economies and agriculture.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate integrated knowledge, applied competences and critical understanding of relevant theories, methodologies and concepts inherent to the field of Occupational Hygiene.
- Protect and promote the health and safety of workers in workplaces, and the community at large, on a national and international level within the framework provided by national and international occupational health and safety legislation.
- Select, evaluate and apply a range of appropriate scientific skills and methods in order to anticipate, recognise, evaluate and control health risks in the workplace with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being, and safeguarding the community at large.
- Operate effectively within a health and safety team and management system and/or manage a team/system and demonstrate logical and critical understanding of the roles of all participants of this team/system and taking responsibility for task outcomes and the application of appropriate resources.
- Practice ethical conduct and accountability in the occupational hygiene profession.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Definition and Description of Concepts: Concepts, theories, and methods from various disciplines relevant to Occupational Hygiene are defined and described.
- Critical Application: Concepts, theories, processes, and methods in the field of Occupational Hygiene are critically discussed, analyzed, and applied.
- Range of Topics: Risk assessment, ergonomics, toxicology, chemical and physical stressors, ventilation, employee wellness, epidemiology, ethics, professional behavior, management of a healthy occupational environment, and research methodology in Occupational Hygiene.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Discussion of Fundamental Principles: Fundamental principles and ethical aspects relevant to Occupational Hygiene are critically discussed and applied.
- Analysis of Laws and Regulations: Laws, regulations, and rules in Occupational Health and Safety are critically analyzed and applied in case studies.
- Communication of Occupational Hygiene Monitoring: The necessity and value of an Occupational Hygiene monitoring program are effectively communicated to different audiences.
- Design and Implementation of Solutions: Critical analysis of Occupational Hygiene issues to design and implement surveys and offer practical solutions.
- Compilation of Occupational Hygiene Report: Compilation of Occupational Hygiene reports for clients with exposure assessment and control strategies communicated effectively within legal principles.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Conducting Risk Assessment: Conducting and understanding the relationship between Risk Assessment and Occupational Hygiene.
- Critical Review and Problem Solving: Reviewing information gathered in Risk Assessment, analyzing data, evaluating results, and solving problems.
- Ethical Considerations: Identifying ethical issues in Risk Assessment and demonstrating ethical value systems.
- Statistical Analysis: Applying appropriate statistical analysis to datasets using statistical software.
- Aerosol Exposure Assessment: Designing suitable sampling programs for different exposure scenarios and communicating strategies for aerosol exposure assessment.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Ownership and Accountability: Taking ownership of work, decisions, and resources used, and being accountable for team actions.
- Problem-Solving and Communication: Using an integrative approach to address complex problems, communicating effectively in written, verbal, and practical forms.
- Creative Insight: Offering creative insight, comprehensive interpretations, and solutions to challenges in Occupational Hygiene practice.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Research Proposal Writing: Writing and presenting a fundamental research proposal without copyright infringement or plagiarism.
- Oral Presentation: Presenting the research proposal orally to a selected audience.
- Ethical Considerations in Employee Wellness: Analyzing and addressing ethical issues in Employee Wellness and Epidemiology, acting according to professional guidelines.
- Communication of Ethical and Legal Responsibilities: Communicating effective arguments based on ethical, legal, and moral responsibilities of employers towards employees.
Integrated Assessment:
- Validity and Reliability: Assessment instruments will be appropriate, valid, and reliable in measuring qualification and module outcomes.
- Clarity of Assessment Criteria: Assessment criteria will be clearly formulated and communicated to learners.
- Assessment Methods: Various assessment methods including assignments, tests, case studies, presentations, practical assessments, and examinations will be used.
- Integrated Assessment: At least one integrated assessment opportunity to assess the main objective of the qualification will be included in the assessment activities.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 548
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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