National Certificate: Occupational Health, Safety and Environment

74269 | NQF LEVEL 02 – CREDITS 120

Purpose of the Qualification
This Qualification is to equip learners working in any type of workplace with a broad understanding and knowledge of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) concepts and practices with sufficient detail to enable them to function in a safe and healthy way and to deal with health and safety problems and issues. It will also contribute to the further development of learners within this environment by providing articulation, recognition and mobility within this dynamic and changing environment.
A learner acquiring this Qualification will be able to:

• Use verbal and written practices to communicate in the workplace and apply mathematical processes to solve everyday numerical problems.
• Explain the requirements of current legislation impacting on Health, Safety and environmental issues in the workplace.
• Recognise, assess and report health and safety hazards and situations in the workplace.
• Administer various health and safety functions, planning, policy and behaviours in the workplace.

Qualifying learners will be able to show responsibility, and independently and effectively manage themselves in the workplace regarding generic health and safety issues. Learners will be able to identify and evaluate occupational safety, health and environmental factors, in occupational environments, which may have a detrimental effect on health and safety of people in such environments. Learners credited with this Qualification are able to perform essential measurements and functions that promote a culture of health and safety in the workplace.

Skills programmes offered include the following:

• Occupational Health Safety (OHS).
• Emergency Care (First Aid & Basic Firefighting Training).
• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA).

Rationale

This Qualification provides learners with opportunities for professional development and career advancement within the broader constituencies of the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) community that will contribute to providing better and safer workplace for all people in the Republic of South Africa. It will assist those health and safety professionals who play an increasingly complex and crucial role in ensuring the health and safety of employees have a well-grounded and comprehensive understanding of the key issues that are essential to meet these high demands. It covers the key issues involved at ground level and is designed to cover general health and safety issues with the specifics being incorporated in the Elective category.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

• Mathematical literacy at NQF Level 1.
• Communication at NQF Level 1.
• Computer literacy at NQF level 1.