National Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
Based on Qualification ID 74269
NQF level 2
120 credits
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.
In South Africa and internationally, the social and economic impact of occupational safety, hygiene, health, and environment is great especially during the current pandemic of the Corona Virus. Direct costs that result from poor workplace safety, hygiene, health, and environments include human and economic costs. Indirect costs are also incurred and can include inter alia poor morale, poor productivity, downtime. Improved workplace safety, hygiene, health, and environments could influence the South African economy in direct costs alone to the value of millions of Rand each year. This qualification aims to meet the demand for learners that are able to assist with the provision of a safe, healthy and productive occupational environment.
There is a critical need in the industry to recognise learner competence regarding essential operations associated with a healthy, safe and productive working environment. This qualification is the entry level to a career path in one of the areas of specialisation in Occupational HSE. It is generic enough to allow maximum mobility within the field of application.
Obtaining formal qualifications in HSE will enable the learner to operate in a wide range of environments. This enhances the employment opportunities of learners and also ensures a wider coverage of HSE Practitioners in the South African work environment. Formal qualifications, and especially at this level open up a career path in HSE and access to further studies, formal and informal, not only in this field but also other, related, fields. Skills, knowledge, values and attitudes (competencies) reflected in the qualification are building blocks towards a higher qualification.