Postgraduate Diploma in Safety Management

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Safety Management is to strengthen working professionals/ learners' knowledge and skills in the field of safety management. This will enable learners to recognise, implement and manage strategic safety management in all industries. Learners are introduced to research in safety management as applicable in the workplace, providing a platform for working professionals to undertake advanced reflection and development through a systematic survey of current thinking and research methods. A practical focus on the management of prevention through design is supported by insights into operational risk management and sustainable development. Learners are prepared for Master's level studies and senior management level occupational development by developing intellectual independence and theoretical engagement, empowering learners with the skills required to relate knowledge to a range of safety management contexts.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Demonstrate a coherent and critical understanding founded on the nature, purpose, procedure, requirements, and practices of scientific research to facilitate new knowledge generation in the field of safety management.
• Apply the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and implement strategic safety management decisions by interrogating multiple sources of information in the process of knowledge production
• Solve problems by applying the principles of the management of prevention through design with the view of developing skills to identify and eliminate hazards during the design phase of a project.
• Apply the principles of operational risk management with the view of developing and utilizing an operational risk management platform to address enterprise risks and their underlying causes.
• Access, process and manage information on the key themes of sustainable development to critically review topics such as environmental crisis, sustainable development policy and sustainable development practice in an African context.

Rationale

An appropriate qualification is required due to the continuous changes that occur in the service, manufacturing, construction, and mining environment to address the shortage of individuals in various industries with the requisite safety management knowledge and skills to execute their duties efficiently and effectively, thereby presenting the ideal opportunity for the introduction of a Postgraduate Diploma in Safety Management.

The institution identified the need for a qualification in Safety Management to serve the needs of senior managers and to support and improve safety management systems in a variety of organisations. After a consultation process with industry representatives, professional bodies and learners

This qualification will target persons employed in senior management level positions as well as those who aspire to advance their careers towards senior management level positions within the field of safety management. This qualification will also allow learners to move from other management specialisations towards further research qualifications in Safety Management.

The qualification is designed to meet the needs of service, manufacturing, construction, and mining sectors for employees with the appropriate critical, analytical, organisational and practical research skills in the following key management and business disciplines: strategic management, operations management, risk management, sustainable development and safety management.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal, and non-formal learning and work experience. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal and non-formal learning. RPL is applied in terms of the policy and criteria of the institution. The necessary documentary evidence will have to be provided and a formal RPL process will be followed. The institution will apply in this qualification the RPL for both access and credits in line with the National Policy and Criteria for the Implementation of RPL (Amended in March 2019).

RPL for Access

Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements of the required qualification may be considered for RPL. There are two options:

• Advanced Standing, in which case the minimum entry requirements are waived by the admitting institution based on evidence of prior learning, work experience or any other relevant circumstances that may apply to an individual learner. No portfolio is required.

OR

• Applicants may provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that the applicant has acquired sufficient relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies to be able to reasonably meet the expectations for learning demanded by the qualification for which they are seeking access.
• In instances where RPL is applied for the purposes of access, no credits will be awarded for any previous learning. However, the candidate may choose the option of being assessed for credit.

RPL for credits

Learners who do meet the necessary entry requirements for admission to a qualification may be awarded some or all the credits towards the qualification. There are two possibilities:

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from a module or some modules by providing sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that a level of competency, equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module or modules, has been achieved. Credits will be awarded for such modules.

OR

• Learners may apply for RPL to be awarded all the credits required for the qualification. Sufficient evidence must be provided that demonstrates a level of competency equivalent to all the learning outcomes of the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Safety Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Construction in Health and Safety Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Any related qualification in the related field, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8,120 Credits

• Research in Safety Management, 24 Credits.
• Strategic Safety Management, 24 Credits.
• The management of Prevention through Design, 24 Credits.
• Operational Risk Management, 24 Credits.
• Sustainable Development: Policy, Practice and Environment, 24 Credits.

1. Demonstrate a coherent and critical understanding founded on the nature, purpose, procedure, requirements, and practices of scientific research to facilitate new knowledge generation in the field of safety management.
2. Apply the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and implement strategic safety management decisions by interrogating multiple sources of information in the process of knowledge production
3. Solve problems by applying the principles of the management of prevention through design with the view of developing skills to identify and eliminate hazards during the design phase of a project.
4. Apply the principles of operational risk management with the view of developing and utilizing an operational risk management platform to address enterprise risks and their underlying causes.
5. Access, process and manage information on the key themes of sustainable development to critically review topics such as environmental crisis, sustainable development policy and sustainable development practice in an African context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Integrate knowledge of the science of safety into the planning of a research project.
• Address community needs and contribute to the body of knowledge by conducting research in the safety management environment.
• Communicate research professionally in practice based on consistent involvement with research as safety practitioners.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply detailed insight and knowledge of the nature, elements, focus, purpose, and objective of strategic safety management in relation to the study object of safety as a science.
• Conduct and apply the planning, implementation and monitoring of strategic safety management by demonstrating detailed insight and knowledge of aligning safety and functional strategies while differentiating relevant responsibility and accountability.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Apply the management process to the management of safety risks.
• Critically evaluate different hazard analysis methods and establish the impact of opinions and human errors on safety risks.
• Distinguish between various ergonomic methods and models of human design to conduct job evaluations as part of the design for safety process in relation to working environment conditions and the design of work areas.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Integrate knowledge of risk management strategy and operational risk with the ability to analyse key elements of corporate governance and an integrated approach to risk management.
• Develop a risk management framework by critically evaluating the risk management strategic planning process, enterprise-wide risk management and the role of technology in risk assessment and management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Analyse identified themes within the domain of sustainable development practice and apply them to practical examples in environmental and sustainable development.
• Critically assess natural resource allocation and management strategies and policies in relation to climate change, GMCs, crop biotechnology and sustainable food production.