INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Academy: Academy of Oxford International
Course Type: Short Online Awareness Course
Proposed Duration: 3 Learning Hours
Level: Beginner
Delivery: Self-paced online learning
Assessment: End-of-course knowledge test

Course Description

This introductory course provides learners with a practical understanding of occupational health and safety principles. It introduces common workplace hazards, basic risk assessment, preventive measures, emergency awareness, and individual responsibilities for maintaining a safer working environment.

The course is suitable for employees, supervisors, students, administrative staff, and individuals seeking foundational knowledge of workplace health and safety.

This is an awareness course. It does not, by itself, qualify a learner to act as a competent safety professional or replace legally required, specialist, or practical training.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners should be able to:

Explain the basic concepts of occupational health and safety.
Distinguish between a hazard and a risk.
Identify common workplace hazards.
Describe basic methods of controlling workplace risks.
Recognise the importance of reporting incidents and near misses.
Identify appropriate first steps during a workplace emergency.
Explain the importance of cooperation, communication, and continuous improvement in workplace safety.

MODULE 1 — Understanding Occupational Health & Safety

1.1 What Is Occupational Health and Safety?

Occupational health and safety (OHS) concerns the prevention of work-related injuries and ill health. It involves identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing preventive measures, and maintaining safe working practices.

OHS applies to many environments, including offices, factories, construction sites, warehouses, laboratories, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions.

1.2 Why Is Workplace Safety Important?

Effective workplace safety helps to:

Reduce the likelihood of injuries and work-related ill health.
Protect employees, visitors, contractors, and other affected people.
Reduce disruption, property damage, and avoidable costs.
Improve employee confidence and organisational performance.
Support compliance with applicable legal requirements.

1.3 Shared Responsibilities

Employers and managers should provide appropriate safety arrangements, information, instruction, supervision, and suitable equipment in accordance with applicable requirements.

Workers should follow relevant safety procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards and incidents, and avoid actions that could endanger themselves or others.

Specific legal duties vary by jurisdiction and workplace.

MODULE 2 — Workplace Hazards and Risks

2.1 What Is a Hazard?

A hazard is something with the potential to cause injury, ill health, damage, or other harm.

Examples include:

Wet floors.
Exposed electrical conductors.
Unguarded machinery.
Hazardous chemicals.
Excessive noise.
Poor manual handling practices.
Fire hazards.

2.2 What Is Risk?

Risk concerns the likelihood that harm will occur and the potential severity of its consequences, taking account of the circumstances and existing controls.

Example: A wet floor is a hazard. The possibility of a person slipping, falling, and sustaining an injury is the associated risk.

2.3 Identifying Hazards

A basic workplace inspection may involve:

Observing work activities and the surrounding environment.
Identifying unsafe conditions and practices.
Considering who might be harmed and how.
Reviewing existing precautions.
Reporting findings and arranging appropriate action.

MODULE 3 — Basic Risk Assessment and Prevention

3.1 The Five Basic Steps

Step 1: Identify the hazards.
Look for conditions, substances, equipment, or activities that could cause harm.

Step 2: Identify who may be harmed and how.
Consider employees, contractors, visitors, and people who may need additional protection.

Step 3: Evaluate the risks and existing precautions.
Consider the likelihood of harm, its potential severity, and whether current controls are adequate.

Step 4: Record and implement appropriate actions.
Assign responsibilities and priorities according to the level of risk and applicable requirements.

Step 5: Review the assessment.
Reassess when conditions change, incidents occur, or existing controls may no longer be effective.

3.2 The Hierarchy of Controls

When deciding how to control a hazard, consider the following order:

Elimination: Remove the hazard.
Substitution: Replace it with a less hazardous alternative.
Engineering controls: Isolate people from the hazard or reduce exposure through physical measures.
Administrative controls: Introduce procedures, training, supervision, or suitable work arrangements.
Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide suitable protective equipment for the remaining risks.

PPE is important, but it should not automatically be treated as the first or only control where more effective measures are reasonably available.

MODULE 4 — Safe Working Practices and Incident Reporting

4.1 Everyday Safe Working Practices

Good safety practices include:

Keeping work areas tidy and access routes clear.
Using equipment only when authorised and appropriately trained.
Following operating procedures and warning signs.
Using suitable manual handling methods and mechanical aids where appropriate.
Avoiding unsafe shortcuts.
Reporting damaged equipment and hazardous conditions.
Using required PPE correctly.

4.2 Incidents and Near Misses

An incident is an event arising from work that caused, or could have caused, injury, ill health, damage, or other loss.

A near miss is an event that did not result in harm but had the potential to do so.

Reporting incidents and near misses helps organisations investigate causes, correct unsafe conditions, and prevent recurrence.

4.3 Learning from Incidents

A suitable investigation should focus on understanding what happened, identifying underlying causes, reviewing existing controls, and implementing corrective actions.

The purpose is to prevent recurrence rather than simply assign blame.

MODULE 5 — Emergency Awareness and Safety Culture

5.1 Emergency Preparedness

Workers should understand the relevant emergency arrangements for their workplace, including:

Alarm signals and reporting procedures.
Designated escape routes and assembly points.
The roles of appointed emergency personnel.
Procedures for contacting emergency services.
Arrangements for people who may need assistance during evacuation.

In an emergency, follow the site emergency plan and instructions from authorised personnel. Do not undertake firefighting, rescue, or other hazardous activities beyond your training and competence.

5.2 Fire Safety Awareness

Basic fire prevention includes maintaining good housekeeping, managing ignition sources, following electrical safety procedures, and keeping escape routes clear.

If a fire is discovered, raise the alarm, follow the emergency plan, evacuate when required, and contact the appropriate emergency service. Attempt to use firefighting equipment only when trained, authorised, and safe to do so, with a clear escape route.

5.3 Building a Positive Safety Culture

A positive safety culture encourages people to report hazards, follow safe procedures, participate in improvement, and communicate openly about safety concerns.

Workplace safety is an ongoing responsibility that requires suitable leadership, worker participation, effective controls, and regular review.

COURSE SUMMARY

Occupational health and safety begins with recognising hazards, understanding risks, applying suitable controls, following workplace procedures, and reporting unsafe conditions.

Every workplace is different. Effective precautions must reflect the actual hazards, the people exposed, the applicable legal requirements, and the competence needed for the work.

END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT

Learners must complete the course assessment and meet the published pass requirement before receiving a Certificate of Completion.

The assessment should test understanding of the learning outcomes rather than memorisation alone.

Suggested assessment format: 15 multiple-choice questions, with a proposed pass mark of 80%.

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT

A Certificate of Completion may be issued after the learner has completed the required learning activities and achieved the published assessment pass mark.

The certificate confirms completion of this specific short awareness course. It does not represent an externally accredited professional qualification unless separate, valid approval has been obtained and the course is delivered within the approved scheme.

IMPORTANT TRAINING NOTE

This course provides general awareness information. It does not replace workplace-specific induction, specialist instruction, practical competence assessment, or mandatory training required by the relevant jurisdiction or employer.

Course Registration Options & Fees

Choose the registration option that best suits your learning needs.

Service Included	Option 1: Interactive Training	Option 2: Self-Study	Option 3: Examination + Printed Certificate	Option 4: Examination + E-Certificate
Interactive Training Session	✓	—	—	—
Course Study Materials	✓	✓	—	—
Examination	✓	✓	✓	✓
Electronic Certificate	✓	✓	✓	✓
Printed Certificate	✓	✓	✓	—
Total Fee (USD)	$75	$50	$40	$25

Payment: Fees are stated in US dollars or their equivalent in the applicable local currency.

Certificate Issuance: Certificates are issued subject to fulfilment of the applicable course assessment and passing requirements.

Printed Certificate Delivery: Shipping charges, if applicable, should be confirmed before registration.

Please select your preferred registration option when completing the course registration form.