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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Occupational Certificate: Safety, Health and Quality Practitioner (Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner) 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99714  Occupational Certificate: Safety, Health and Quality Practitioner (Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner) 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MQA (Health) 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  256  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification is replaced by: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
121527  Higher Occupational Certificate: Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner.

An Occupational Health and Safety Practitioners serve as a facilitator and advisor to employees and management regarding safety and health aspects in the workplace including the monitoring and inspecting of the workplace and the recording and investigation of incidents and accidents. They also implement and maintain Occupational Health and Safety systems in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Inspect work places and environments to identify the occupational health and safety hazards and determine the risks associated with the work.
  • Facilitate and support actions to eliminate or control hazards in order to minimise risks in a designated work area.
  • Represent the needs of employees with regard to Occupational Health and Safety matters.
  • Participate in the planning and implementation of operational Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
  • Monitor and continually improve the effectiveness of operational Occupational Health and Safety systems.

    Rationale:
    Occupational Health and Safety is a core element for the success of all enterprises globally. The right to work in a safe and healthy environment is entrenched in the South African Constitution. The accountability for Occupational Health and safety is shared by all stakeholders and there are well established global practices and processes for ensuring Occupational Health and Safety. Over the years the development and implementation of these systems have become a science on its own. Line managers are trained in these processes and a cadre of specialised employees has been established to develop, implement and monitor the effective use of these global best practices.

    This qualification is aimed at building the competence levels of this cadre of employees. The qualification also covers the work that will be done by the legislated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) representatives. This qualification meets a critical need in the industry. It is aligned with the National Development Strategy and it will enable employees from the different technical work areas to embark on a career path in Occupational Health and Safety Management. All organisations in South Africa require the services of at least one Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner. The training for this cadre of employees is currently fragmented and done through a series of short courses. This qualification will standardise the training and will enhance the levels of compliance in this area. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.

    RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

    Entry Requirements:
    A Level 4 qualification with Mathematical Literacy. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Workplace Learning Modules:
    Knowledge Modules:
  • 226302001-KM-01, Fundamentals of Occupational Health and Safety, Level 2, 9 Credits.
  • 226302001-KM-02, Fundamentals of Communication, Level 3, 6 Credits.
  • 226302001-KM-03, Occupational Health and Safety applications, Level 4, 17 Credits.
  • 226302001-KM-04, Occupational Health and Safety Management, Level 5, 38 Credits.
  • 226302001-KM-05, Operations Management and Supervision, Level 5, 6 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 76.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 226302001-PM-01, Represent the needs of employees with regard to Occupational Health and Safety matters, Level 3, 8 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-02, Inspect work places, identify hazards and risks and take immediate action to ensure health and safety in the workplace, Level 3, 4 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-03, Consult with employees and raise their needs and issues at, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-04, Inspect work places and environments to identify the occupational health and safety hazards and determine the risks associated with the work, Level 4, 16 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-05, Coordinate the work activities of Occupational Health and Safety representatives, Level 4, 6 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-06, Develop a risk profile and legal register for a designated work area, Level 5, 6 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-07, Establish, maintain and improve the health and safety documentation and reporting systems, controls and processes, Level 5, 4 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-08, Advise on the establishment maintenance and improvement of emergency response and preparedness, Level 5, 8 Credits.
  • 226302001-PM-09, Manage the effectiveness of operational Occupational Health and Safety systems, Level 5, Credits 6.
    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 62.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 226302001-WM-, Exposure to the workplace examination processes, Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • 226302001-WM-02, Exposure to the processes of representing the Occupational Health and Safety needs of employees, Level 3, 4 Credits.
  • 226302001-WM-03, Exposure to Occupational Risk Management processes, Level 4, 12 Credits.
  • 226302001-WM-04, Exposure to the processes of selecting, appointing and managing Occupational Health and Safety representatives, Level 4, 8 Credits.
  • 226302001-WM-05, Exposure to the processes of developing and implementing Occupational Health and Safety systems, Level 5, 48 Credits.
  • 226302001-WM-06, Exposure to the processes of monitoring and improving Occupational Health and Safety systems, Level 5, 34 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 118. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1: Facilitate and support actions to eliminate or control hazards in order to minimise risks in a designated work area.
    2: Participate in the planning and implementation of operational Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
    3: Monitor and continually improve the effectiveness of operational Occupational Health and Safety systems. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Evaluate complex and detailed scenarios in an organisation using all methods including Occupational Health and Safety Statistics to identify shortcomings related to accepted industry standards and norms for Health and Safety.
  • Describe short, medium and long term corrective and preventative actions aligned with global leading practices to eliminate and mitigate the risks that are feasible and relevant to dealing with identified shortcomings.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Formulate risk profiles and legal registers according to industry accepted practices and standards which cover all the risks including all the legal requirements relevant to the given situations.
  • Develop Health and safety plans and Implementation Guidelines to correct identified shortcomings in the existing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) system and practices for a given area of responsibility based on accepted industry standards and norms relevant to a given situation.
  • Evaluate existing implementation plans to determine areas of improvement and make feasible, cost efficient and legal recommendations on how to improve the plans.
  • Describe the process of communicating and reporting the implementation plan and dealing with possible barriers to communication aligned to the accepted industry standards and global leading practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Analyse audit findings, monitoring results and investigation reports and motivate appropriate recommendations to correct and improve the effectiveness and adequacy of the OHS system using practical examples and referring to industry leading practices.
  • Accurately analyse the trends of accidents and incidents and recommend ways to prevent accidents and incidents focussing on industry leading practices.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

    ntegrated Summative Assessment:
    An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Occupational Health and Safety discipline is built on global standards and practices. In all countries there is legislation that requires the appointment of Occupational Health and Safety Practitioners. Because of this there are qualifications in most countries. The content of these qualifications covers mostly the same material.

    In the United Kingdom (UK) the Level 5 National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is a vocational qualification designed specifically for safety professionals who want to attain a chartered status of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) through a practical, evidence-based route as opposed to an academic course.

    It is a qualification for those who wish to forge a career in health and safety as advisors, managers or consultants. There are no entry requirements, but candidates must be aged 19 or over. Learners who are carrying out the activities stated in the unit standards will be requested to produce evidence to show their competence in these areas.

    The qualification meets the academic requirements for Graduate Membership of IOSH. With additional experience and further professional development, those who obtain get the Diploma can also attain Chartered Safety Practitioner status.

    The duration of this course is 15 to 18 months and the content covers all the aspects that are covered in the South African Occupational Certificate.

    In Australia:
    A similar situation to those found in the UK and Canada exists in Australia, where the Vocational Certificate IV in Occupational Health and Safety can be earned within a period of 15 to 18 months. This qualification enables learners to use well-developed skills and a broad knowledge base in a wide variety of contexts. They will also be able to apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems, and analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources. This qualification would suit an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Officer in a full-time dedicated role who works under the supervision of an OHS Coordinator or OHS Manager, and will enable people to fulfil Job Roles such as:
  • Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator.
  • Occupational Health and Safety Officer.

    Conclusion:
    The Occupational Certificate: OHS Practitioner compares favourably with the qualifications and courses reviewed in the two countries in terms of content, level and duration. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    National Diploma: Occupational Safety, Level 5 (ID 79808).

    Vertical Articulation:
    This is a new qualification. There are no cognate qualifications developed at Level 6 at present on the OQSF. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.