Bachelor of Science Honours in Construction Health and Safety Management

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with the necessary professional attributes, health and safety skills and competencies to become Construction Health and Safety Managers.

Rationale

Health and Safety Management is considered a scarce skill. Given this, the qualification has been designed to directly meet the needs of the sector, contributing ultimately towards the National Development Plan, benefiting not only the learner, but society at large. The qualification meets the specific needs of the sector by meeting and providing for the growing demand for registered Health and Safety Managers.

As a result of the qualification's endorsement by the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), learners will be able to move from candidacy to full registration as a Professional Health and Safety Manager upon completion of the qualification. Learners would also be able register and practice as Professional Consultant Health and Safety Managers and may find employment within the construction contracting fraternity. Health and Safety Managers are also employed in the mining and petro-chemical sectors.

The main stakeholders of this qualification are the public and private sectors of the construction industry. Typically, these sectors require higher levels of advanced technical and analytical capabilities. It is anticipated that this programme will develop well-rounded, academically equipped, adept and mature managers with technical leadership skills and strong capabilities that are expediently responsive to modern societal needs of the industry. The qualification also targets recent qualifying learners who would be interested in academic advancement through postgraduate studies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL will be applied in line with the institution's policies and guidelines. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the institution will therefore endeavour to assess prior learning and award credit where relevant.

Through RPL a learner may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is

• Bachelor of Science in Construction or National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7 equivalent.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Levels 8 totalling 156 Credits.

Modules: 156 Credits

• Research Report, 36 Credits.
• Environment and Sustainable Construction, 12 Credits.
• Safety, Health and Construction Law, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Management, 12 Credits.
• Professional Practice, 12 Credits.
• Health and Safety Management, 24 Credits.
• Construction Management, 24 Credits.
• Risk Management, 12 Credits.
• Human Resources Management for Construction, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of advanced construction methods and technique.
2. Apply health and safety management principles to effectively solve managerial problems in the construction industry.
3. Critically evaluate the various roles and functions in the construction management process.
4. Critically evaluate legislative requirements in the construction industry.
5. Critically evaluate available health and safety resources during construction management processes.
6. Conduct research projects in the construction industry.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Correctly apply construction management principles to practical health and safety issues and problems in the construction industry.
• Comprehensively discuss the benefits and challenges of mechanisation techniques, in relation to health and safety.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Critically discuss the challenges and benefits of the role of Health and Safety Management in the Construction Industry.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Industrial Relations issues as they pertain to the Construction industry.
• Evaluate an organisation's competitive advantage or lack thereof, in relation to risk management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Clearly illustrate the roles as a team member and team leader, in the construction management process.
• Critically evaluate the function of a health and safety manager.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Correctly apply the fundamental principles of commercial and mercantile law.
• Demonstrate the correct understanding of contractual claims, administration of construction contracts and procurement processes.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS).
• Critically evaluate the role of Ethics and professional practice in the health and safety domain.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation in relation to its health and safety practices.
• Compare risk management strategies in the industry.
• Offer viable and innovative solutions for projects with constrained health and safety resources.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Demonstrate the ability to independently investigate and conduct research within the health and safety discipline.
• Accurately analyse and interpret results to provide valid conclusions.

Integrated Assessment

There will be at least one assessment opportunity before the final summative assessment for each module.

Formative Assessment

The modules consist of different forms of formative assessments consisting of project reports, case studies, assignments etc., which will be implemented in each module, depending on the nature of the module. No experiential learning is involved in the programme.

Summative Assessment

For the modules, each intermediate or progress assessment will be awarded a mark, and then combined with the final examination mark based on pre-determined weightings for the module.

Two assessors, one of whom will be an internal assessor and the other, an external assessor, will assess the Research Report component.