Advanced Diploma in Safety Management

Purpose

The Qualification is designed to equip learners with advanced general and specialist knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety. Qualifying learners should be able to apply theory and best practice with regard to safety management in a work context, ensure effective workplace relations and training through the application of theory, and fully understand business processes and the application of safety principles and effective safety measures in practice.

Rationale

This Qualification is intended for persons specialising in Safety Management and seeks to provide articulation possibilities to learners who have completed a Diploma or National Diploma in Safety Management. There is a dire need for suitably qualified personnel and researchers in the Safety Management industry. This qualification is designed to prepare learners for postgraduate study through the deepening of their knowledge and understanding of theories, methodologies and practices, as well as through the application of advanced problem solving to safety related problems, advice on safety in big enterprises and management of occupational health, safety and environmental programmes in such enterprises. Upon the successful completion of this qualification the incumbent will be prepared to advance to a Postgraduate Diploma in Safety Management and, thereafter, to a Professional Master's Degree in Safety Management.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• RPL can be used to grant learners who do not initially meet the full entry requirements admission to the qualification.
• Learners may apply for credits or exemptions for modules already passed.
• The qualification may be achieved in part by the assessment of competencies acquired through informal and non-formal learning.

The RPL process is applied on a case-by-case basis, using a structured range of assessment tools, procedures and techniques, to assess the leaner's prior learning against specified level outcomes of the qualification. Assessment instruments are designed for RPL in accordance with the Institution's policies on fair and transparent assessment.

Entry Requirements

To gain access to this qualification, an applicant is required to have a

• Diploma in Safety Management at NQF Level 6.

The qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

Modules

• Advanced Occupational Health and Safety Law I, 15 Credits.
• Environmental Law, 15 Credits.
• Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Management Systems, 10 Credits.
• Labour Law, 15 Credits.
• Advanced Risk Management, 10 Credits.
• Advanced Occupational Health and Safety Law II, 15 Credits.
• Strategic and Project Management, 10 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 10 Credits.
• Industrial and Organisational Psychology, 10 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 10 Credits.

1. Apply theory and best practice with regard to management, adherence to safety principles and legislation in a work context to ensure effective relationships between individuals and groups in an industrial environment.
2. Gather, evaluate and manage information required for meeting safety goals and statutory requirements in industry.
3. Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of business processes and the application of safety management skills in practice.
4. Demonstrate integrated knowledge and understanding of safety management terms, concepts, principles, relevant legislation and regulations and theories.
5. Demonstrate intellectual independence and critical thinking through the evaluation and application of knowledge in response to solve problems in an occupational health and safety context.
6. Demonstrate a heightened awareness when making ethical decisions and acting professionally.
7. Demonstrate competence in communicating ideas and opinions based on appropriate academic and professional arguments.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and skills to conduct basic research in the field of Safety Management by making use of a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques and technologies.

The following Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated way to modules and specialised learning areas, where applicable, to determine competence in the Exit Level Outcomes:

• Legislation and legal principles such as UIF, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID), legal surveys relating to occupational health and hygiene, introduction to safety audits, etc. are addressed.
• All relevant environmental legislation and regulations impacting on industry are explained.
• Basic principles of Labour Law and relevant labour legislation are evaluated, understood and applied in an ethical and professional way.
• Occupational health and safety risks associated with the workplace are identified, evaluated, critiqued and reviewed.
• The development, marketing and management functions associated with owning and operating a business are designed and performed.
• The development, implementation and maintenance of the Safety Health and Environment (SHE) management programmes and systems as well as compliance with these programmes are assessed.
• Current tendencies in SHE Management systems are analysed and assessed and a range of methods is applied to resolve problems and introduce change in this respect.
• Resources are organised and managed in such a way that the project or strategic objectives are reached within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints.
• Individual differences in occupational safety in industry and intra-individual variables, such as personality traits, perceptions, attitudes, values and motivation are identified and assessed in order to transform organisational and individual behaviour regarding safety consciousness and awareness in industry.
• Research themes are appropriately identified and demarcated.
• Basic research inquiry is planned and conducted on the basis of a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques and technologies for the specific research problem.
• Evidence of a sound understanding of relevant research theory and practice is illustrated through selected research methods, techniques and technologies.
• Skill in formulating key findings, drawing justifiable conclusions and making feasible recommendations are displayed through a basic research report.
• Motivations of own position to specific Safety Management debates are based on sound integration of relevant theory, practice, research and independent, creative thinking.
• Sound understanding of own position and its feasibility in relation to major debates regarding Safety Management and practice are demonstrated through discussions.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. Formative assessment is conducted and results in constructive feedback, which focuses on the extent of competence as measured against outcomes as a mechanism to monitor learning progress, identify weak points or limitations, and provide remedial guidance to learners for further learning and professional development.

Summative assessment

A variety of assessment methods and tools may include, but are not limited to, formal tests, group assignments, projects, case studies and portfolios.

Assessment will ensure engagement with both theory and practice. Assessment tools will encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpin their demonstrated performance. Some assessment practices will demand practical evidence while others will be more theoretical, depending on the type of outcomes to be assessed. A broad range of task-oriented and theoretical assessment tools will be used, with the distinction between practical knowledge and disciplinary knowledge maintained so that each takes its rightful place.