Occupational Health and Safety

Online short course

Enhance employee safety and contentment in the workplace, while guaranteeing your business adheres to local regulations. Study risk assessment and control, hazard management, and more with UCT Occupational Health and Safety.

10 weeks entirely online with self-paced weekly modules

Learn from UCT faculty and industry experts

Expand your network and develop your ability to lead OHS trainings

99% learner satisfaction

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

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, as proof of your competence in this field.

Accredited by Saiosh

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.

Course curriculum

Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:

Module 1

Understand the need for good standards of health and safety, and the framework and systems that underpin OHS.

Module 2

Recognise how an OHS policy and key stakeholders influence health and safety culture and performance.

Module 3

Show how the risk assessment process is used to control risks.

Module 4

Identify the control measures required for various hazards.

Module 5

Find out how best to manage machinery and other equipment, and their associated risks.

Course Convenor

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

An online education that sets you apart

This UCT online short course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. 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.

Want to know more?

Enter your information to access the course prospectus and learn more about this course from GetSmarter.

Want to know more?

Enter your information to access the course prospectus and learn more about this course from GetSmarter.