The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Practitioner

What is an OHS Practitioner?

A Health and Safety practitioner, also known as an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practitioner, advises employees and management on safety and health aspects in the workplace. This includes monitoring and inspecting the workplace and recording and investigating incidents and accidents. They also implement and maintain Occupational Health and Safety systems to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Some of the job titles of an OHS Practitioner may include Safety, Health and Quality Practitioner, Safety Coordinator and Safety and Health Advisor.

Why is there a need for an OHS practitioner?

Occupational Health and Safety is a key element for many companies globally. In South Africa, the right to work in a safe and healthy environment is entrenched in the South African Constitution. Accountability for OHS is a shared responsibility between employers and employees who must work together to uphold best practices and processes in the workplace.

In most industrial work settings, the demand for health and safety practitioners is expected to increase due to several factors, including:

1. Workplace safety: There is a focus on creating safer workplaces for employees, customers and other stakeholders.
2. Legal requirements: Regulations and Acts increase the demand for health and safety professionals.
3. Awareness and specialisation: The field of health and safety is becoming more specialised and therefore contributing to the increase in demand.
4. Industry growth: As industries like mining, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and retail grow, so does the need for health and safety professionals.

This position therefore enables employees from different technical work areas to embark on a career path in Occupational Health and Safety Management.

Having a Health and Safety practitioner on your team ensures that best practices and compliance are implemented at the site level. They ensure that workplaces are inspected and hazards and risks are identified. They facilitate actions to eliminate or control hazards and represent employee needs.

Key Responsibilities of an OHS Practitioner:

1. Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification: Conducting regular risk assessments to identify workplace hazards and developing strategies to eliminate or minimize identified risks.
2. Developing, designing and Implementing safety procedures in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards (such as OSHA, OHS Act, or local regulatory bodies). Ensuring that all personnel follow safe work practices and that risks are mitigated through the proper use of equipment, training, and controls.
3. Providing training and education for employees on safety protocols, emergency procedures, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and safe work practices, and organizing regular safety drills and awareness campaigns.
4. Conducting safety inspections and audits to ensure compliance with safety regulations and internal safety policies, identifying areas for improvement and taking corrective action as needed.
5. Investigating accidents, injuries, near-misses, and safety incidents to identify root causes. Then reporting and documenting incidents according to regulatory and organizational requirements and recommending corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
6. Compliance: Ensuring that the organisation complies with national and international health and safety laws, standards, and regulations, staying updated on changes in legislation and implementing necessary adjustments to policies and procedures.
7. Health and Wellness Programmes to promote general employee well-being, including ergonomic assessments, mental health support, and wellness programmes. Also managing programmes related to workplace health risks such as stress, fatigue, and substance abuse.

Who qualifies for the OHS Practitioner training course?

Health and safety practitioners need strong communication, presentation, knowledge management, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Someone in this field needs to be able to identify issues, facilitate and support actions, represent employees, and be good at planning and monitoring.

The entry requirement for studying in this field is a Level 4 qualification with Mathematical Literacy. Alternatively, one can pursue the route of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) if the person has been working in the industry for a period of 5 years or more and has sufficient knowledge and experience. In this case, they would need to write an internal assessment.

What does this training course involve?

This qualification is aimed at building the competence levels of employees to cover the work that will be done by the legislated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) representatives. This qualification meets a critical need in the industry, and all organisations in South Africa require the services of at least one Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner.

This training course covers topics such as fundamentals of communication, occupational health and safety applications, and occupational health and safety management.

It can be offered through distance learning, in person or online and consists of a portfolio of evidence with theory and practical assignments. There is also an External Integrated Summative Assessment to ensure the standardisation of this qualification.

The Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner qualification is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). It has the following accreditation details: QCTO Curriculum Code: 226302001, SAQA Qualification ID: 99714, Credits: 256, and NQF: 5.

Sign me up!

The Master Builders KZN Institute of Learning offers the Occupational Certificate: Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner with classes starting in February 2025. Perhaps your business would like to sponsor a learner as part of your CSI B-BEEE spend or you may know of a school leaver looking to study in this field in 2025. For an application form contact training@masterbuilders.co.za

At the end of the day

Health and safety is important in the workplace for a number of reasons, including meeting legal requirements, reducing accidents and increasing productivity. A good health and safety record can also improve a company's reputation with customers, investors and communities, as well as reducing costs. Establishing health and safety as a shared value can help create a positive culture in the workplace and protect visitors and customers, making the role of a Health and Safety Practitioner essential for any workplace.

Heidi Kilian

Head: Training