Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational Safety and Health Practice Programs
Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Practice (Level 4)
Overview
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), also called Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), is a multidisciplinary field of study and practice that is concerned with the health, safety and welfare of welfare of people engaged in work environment or employment.
The main goal of an occupational health and safety program is to foster a healthy and safe occupational environment to protect people in work environment or employment and all the general public who may be affected by the occupational activities being conducted within the environment. In common-law jurisdictions, employers have a common responsibility or duty to take reasonable care of the safety of their employees. Respective countries in which occupational activities are being conducted by employers may, in addition, impose other general duties, introduce specific duties, and create government bodies with powers to regulate occupational safety issues: details of this vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
With the increasing rate of industrial or occupational hazards and public sensitivity towards environmental health and human rights coupled with the intensifying global competition, there is a growing needs or demand for Occupational Health and Safety graduates at the global scale. As a career specific program Occupational Health and Safety with 70% practical learning and assessments, your completion of this program will give you a competitive edge in a toughening work environment in which employers are only seeking for graduates with hands-on skills, competency and work preparedness or employable skills.
Who is this qualification for?
The Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Operations (Level 4) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Occupational Health and Safety to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:
- Corporate Health and Safety Trainee
- Occupational Health and Safety Trainee
- Occupational Safety and Wellness Trainee
- Trainee Claims and Insurance Analyst
- Trainee Coordinator of Loss Control
- Trainee for Employee Health Services
- Trainee Health and Safety Consultant
- Trainee Health and Safety Engineer
- Trainee Health and Safety Officer
- Trainee Health and Safety Trainer
- Trainee Industrial or Occupational Hygienist
- Trainee Infection Control Practitioner
- Trainee Occupational Health
- Trainee Occupational Health Analyst
- Trainee Occupational Health and Safety Risk Analyst
- Trainee Occupational Safety and Health Specialist.
What makes this course special?
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) is one of the world’s most successful and best-preferred applied (hands-on) learning brand. The National Institute of Technology qualifications place greater emphasis on self-employment and employer engagement and work readiness. National Institute of Technology (NIT) is one of the world’s most successful and best-preferred applied (hands-on) learning brand. The National Institute of Technology qualifications place greater emphasis on self-employment and employer engagement and work readiness. The NIT-Namibia provides 70% practical and 30% theory teaching and learning methodologies coupled with various practical learning focused activities which fully engage our students. The NIT programs in Occupational Health and Safety Practice are work-related qualifications for students taking their first steps into employment, or for those already in employment and seeking career development opportunities.
The NIT programs in Biomedical Sciences are work-related qualifications for students taking their first steps into employment, or for those already in employment and seeking career development opportunities.
Why you must study at NIT?
At National Institute of Technology (NIT), we know how important it is for career ambitious people to get the right education in order to start and further develop their careers.
With today’s industry and employers demanding so much more than just a qualification to contain the effects of global competition and to attain competitive edge, here are the main six (6) reasons why you must choose to study at NIT:
Work Readiness
NIT courses will give you real hands on experience in pursuing your education. It is what is called learning by doing it or action learning. Based on a 70% practical (action learning, action research, projects, reflective thinking, critical thinking, etc.) and 30% theory teaching and learning and assessments methodologies, all the NIT students become work ready (prepared) during their first year of study and graduate with strong work ethics, analytical, problem solving, communication and entrepreneurial skills which are the major factors that employers are looking for in their new recruits.
Employability
NIT’s higher vocational, technical and professional courses prepare students for employment and self-employment. The NIT courses develop a student’s employability skills as they offer the experience of real-life practical tasks and work placements. NIT’s qualifications are generally well-regarded by employers as the courses enable students to develop useful hands-on skills in respective fields of study and in critical areas such as problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning, execution to evaluation. The knowledge and skills you get from NIT programs will make you be sought after by employers locally and globally. NIT helps students to gain strong knowledge and skills that are essential to start and successfully run their own businesses and/or to be appreciated competent and productive employees that every employer would like to hire.
Relevant
NIT courses are designed and developed with the help of the employers, industrial experts, professional bodies, higher education experts and lecturers. This keeps the NIT curriculum to be industry driven and relevant for today and the future’s job market and self-employment. NIT’s qualifications provide students with industry-specific knowledge, skills and competencies which make graduates’ work outputs to be relevant to their employers’ missions, visions and goals.
Practical Teaching and Assessments
The NIT’s teaching and learning is based on the seven (7) major principles teaching and learning through which theory knowledge is practically applied into various practical teaching and learning methods including action learning, projects supported by verifiable tangible evidences (outcomes), critical reflective thinking, case scenarios, job placements, industrial site visits, public lectures led by industrial experts, etc.
The assessment for NIT courses is largely based on regular coursework and work experience, which makes them an ideal option for those who crumble under the pressure of exams.
All the NIT programs are assessed through objective and rigor-based assignments and projects for which origination is examined through the Turnitin IT Application to ensure that each students submits his/her own true work. The outcome of these assignments must be in an implementable practical and quality standard.
Career and Education Progression
Employers value NIT’s qualifications as the courses are industry-centered and directed. In other words, unlike academic programs, the NIT courses give students the industry-specific knowledge and skills which makes them readily employable. This, combined with the problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning skills they gained throughout their learning process give the NIT graduates a strong competitive edge to progress in senior job positions and to further pursue their postgraduate professional degrees such as Masters to Professional Doctorate Degree programs at various reputable higher education institutions/universities.
The NIT Certificate in Biomedical Sciences (Level 4) is also designed to reflect the increasing need for progression onto the high quality professional and technical education at levels 5 to 8 and beyond. These qualifications provide students with a clear career pathway so that they can be empowered to effectively and successfully progress and attain their career goals within the fastest period possible.
Reputation and Prestige
- The industry relevance, practicality, career specific and quality of the NIT qualification will make you to standout and visibly be seen and noticed in a cloud of many academically qualified graduates.
- As more employers expect their new employees to have relevant practical skills and competencies than costly academic knowledge, NIT makes your CV and profile standout.
- NIT is known for stringent quality standards which govern the provision of its higher vocational, technical and professional courses. NIT is also known for its practical, relevance and Industry driven courses.
- The above values, compounded with the work ethics, entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills you will learn and practice while studying at NIT will grant you the respect, reputation and prestige within the industry sector you will work.
Qualification Purpose and Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply appropriate understanding and illustrate the role and responsibilities of a first aider.
- Set-up and effectively run an occupational health and safety practice organization, training center, or any other related enterprise.
- Utilize appropriate methods and procedures in response to a range of concrete problems within the Occupational Health and Safety sector.
- Analyze and understand how to apply the different psychological approaches.
- Engage well-being of both employees and employers at workplace because human loss is immeasurable and intolerable. As, such loss or injuries can employ major loss to the families.
- Progress to the Level 5 in Occupational Health and Safety.
How will I learn?
The NIT tutors/lecturers are equipped with various traditional teaching methods which are all used to create and develop Vibrant, Skilled, Competent, and Work-prepared Entrepreneurial Technicians, Technologists, and Professionals. The teaching and learning practices involve 70% practical and 30% theory methodologies by applying a wide range of action learning techniques stipulated in the course specification.
What does the course involve?
You will study a combination of theory, applied theory, and practical subjects across a broad range of units. To succeed, your effective time management and focus are both very critical. You will cover twelve (12) units. For each unit, you will do a main test, assignment, and examination in addition to an integrated project. These assessments do not include the informal tests, homework, and assignments that your lecturers will require you to do in each learning outcome. To pass this applied qualification, it is critical that constantly monitor, formalize yourself with and operate alongside developments taking place within the Occupational Health and Safety field by regularly visiting industries and all other employing organizations, reading news & articles, etc.
Assessment Methods
The NIT programs are assessed using a combination of:
- Informal Assessments
- Formal Assessments
Informal assessments are conducted by lecturers on each covered component of the unit outcome to weigh knowledge created into his/her students so that necessary teaching practices adjustments can be made as appropriate.
Formal Assessments are further classified into two parts:
- Formal Continuous Assessments which comprise of:
- Major Test
- An Integrated Action Project
- Formal Final Assessments which comprise of:
- Major Examination
- Unit Assignments
What are the Career Progression Opportunities?
Learners who have achieved Occupational Health and Safety could progress to the next level of the same program or on any appropriate level of Health and Social Care Management program. Learners could also progress into different job roles within the Occupational Health and Safety field.
What are Articulation Opportunities?
The credit transfers from other programs offered by other institutions or other NIT programs will be dealt with according to NIT rules and regulations on Recognition of Prior Learning. Provided that an applicant has qualification accredited by NQA and verifiable through the NQF, the NIT rules provide for course by course credits as well as credit transfer by volume under certain conditions. Maximum credits that can be granted from none technical (hands-on) programs are 15% of the credits for a qualification. Maximum credits that can be granted from the technical (hands-on) programs of similar standards with those of NIT are 50% of the credits for a qualification.
What career opportunities can this lead to?
The Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Operations (Level 4) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Occupational Health and Safety to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:
- Corporate Health and Safety Trainee
- Occupational Health and Safety Trainee
- Occupational Safety and Wellness Trainee
- Trainee Claims and Insurance Analyst
- Trainee Coordinator of Loss Control
- Trainee for Employee Health Services
- Trainee Health and Safety Consultant
- Trainee Health and Safety Engineer
- Trainee Health and Safety Officer
- Trainee Health and Safety Trainer
- Trainee Industrial or Occupational Hygienist
- Trainee Infection Control Practitioner
- Trainee Occupational Health
- Trainee Occupational Health Analyst
- Trainee Occupational Health and Safety Risk Analyst
- Trainee Occupational Safety and Health Specialist.
What are the Fees?
Our fees include:
- Application/Registration Fees
- Tuition Fees
- Other Fees include Laboratory Fees, Study Manuals, industrial site tours, action research, etc. (where and if applicable).
For more information about our fees, please contact any of our Call Centre at any of our Campuses or the Marketing and Public Relationships Department.
Funding Opportunities
There are many funding options for the NIT’s accredited programs. Most of our students have over the past years been funded by their employers while others finance their studies on their own. Students can also apply for study loans with Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund. NIT also provides scholarships and bursaries to students who meet requirements as stipulated in our annual prospectus.
Withdrawal/Cancellation
Any cancellations/withdraw or refunds are executed as per the NIT policies. For more details, refer to the Students Registration Agreement and the Withdraw Policy.
The Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Practice (Level 4) is made up of twelve (12) units. It is structured to be studied for one year through Distance Learning, Online, Virtual Campus, Part-Time, Full-Time, Or Blended Learning.
Total Unit/Modules
The following is a compressive list of course modules you will cover in this program:
- 3OHS101 Anatomy and Human Physiology
- 3OHS102 Fundamentals of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety
- 3OHS103 Occupational Health and Safety Standards
- 3OHS104 Sociology and Anthropology of Occupational Health and Safety
- 3OHS105 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- 3OHS106 Chemistry for Health Sciences
- 3OHS107 Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases
- 3OHS108 Applied Fire Protection and Safety
- 1STU101 Applied Business Communication and Technology
- 1STU102 Principles of Entrepreneurship
- 1STU103 Applied Fundamentals of Statistical Methods
- 1STU104 Legal and Ethical Context of Practice
Work placement/experience requirements
Although there are no specific mandatory elements of work placement/experience requirement for the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Practice (Level 4), students are expected to apply theories learnt through various methods and carryout the practical learning activities as provided in the qualification specification.
Completion of Study Enrolment Form
Download and complete the Student’s Enrolment Agreement (SEA) form or obtain one from our Call Centre at any of our Campuses, print and complete it and submit it with proof of payment for the stipulated registration fees together to any of our Campuses before the stipulated application deadlines to avoid paying late application/registration fees. To be considered for approval, the completed enrolment agreement form must be accompanied by certified copies of documents as stipulated on the Student’s Enrolment Agreement (SEA) form.
Applicant must ensure that:
- The enrolment agreement form is properly and fully completed and that each page is initialed and signed;
- He/she provides all the required documentation such as certified copies of qualifications, Identity Card/Passport photos, Supporting letters from employers,
- He/she deposit registration fees into the respective Campus’ Bank Account provided on the enrolment agreement form and submits the original copy of the deposit as proof before being issued with an official receipt.
- He/she is issued with an official Institutional Receipt, stamped with Official Company Stamp, and Signed by the Head of Call Centre for every payment made to the NIT.
- Please note that NIT does not receive cash payments,
- He/she obtains a written acknowledge letter confirming that his/her completed enrolment agreement form has been received.
- He/she obtains the status of his/her application for studies within 30 working days.
- If admitted, an Admission letter issued by the Admissions section in the Office of the Registrar is obtained through the respective campus together with the timetable, program specifications, syllabuses, student’s details of student’s portal, student’s handbook, and rules and regulations, student card, and any other information.
When can I apply?
NIT has a whole year circle of accepting new applications from students from all over the world. However, please take note that applications for the First Semester which starts in January/February each year are only considered up to March of each year. This period includes late registration. Unsuccessful applications for First Semester and applications that are received late are considered for the Second Semester which starts in July each year.
The following are two (2) annual teaching and learning intakes for students to register to study on this program at NIT:
- January/February – June
- June/July – November
Applications must be made in-time to avoid late registration fees and to be disappointed if spaces are allocated to earlier applicants.
What must I have to qualify?
The entry to this qualification shall be based on a minimum of following two (2) requirements which must both be met:
- Certificate in any Healthcare specialized field such as Nursing, Medicine, Psychology, Dentistry, etc.
- Twenty-five (25) points in grade 12 (now grade 11) in five (5) subjects with an E or better symbol in English (of which English shall be part of the 5 subjects you must have completed). or
- Accredited equivalent qualification at NQF level 3 with total credit value as required by the NIT policy/regulation
Mature age entry provided that applicant:
- Is 23 years old or over at the time of making the application,
- Has at least five (5) years’ work experience in a related field and
- Has at least passed grade 10 which must include E in English and provides an acceptable reference from a reputable respective employing organization.
- Must pass an Aptitude Test with a minimum of 60%
OR
- Is 23 years old or over at the time of making the application,
- Has at least three (3) years’ work experience in a related field and
- Has at least passed grade 12 which must include E in English and provides an acceptable reference from a reputable respective employing organization.
- Must pass an Aptitude Test with a minimum of 60%
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
- Applicants with Twenty (20) and above points in grade 12 (now grade 11) in six (6) subjects with an E or better symbol in English (of which English shall be part of the 6 subjects) may be accepted provided that they have passed an Aptitude Test with a minimum of 60%.
- Applicants for Engineering programs must, also, have an E,or better symbols in Physical Science and Mathematics.
- Applicants for Education and Training and Health and Social Care Management must refer to specific entry requirements stipulated on the attached document.
- International applicants must have a minimum of five (5) General Certificate of Education (GCSEs) at an ordinary level or their equivalent including passes in Maths and English.
Resources for Prospecting Students
- Qualifications Brochure
- Prospectus
- Online Application
- Application Form
Resources for Registered Students
- Student Handbook
- Institutional Calendar
- Learning and Assessments Policies
- Qualifications Specifications
- Assessments Schedules
- Recorded Lessons’ Presentations
- Virtual Classrooms
- Virtual Library
- Virtual Laboratories
- Study Manuals and Books
