I. Why the need for this course?

Management of health and safety in the workplace is not a legal and moral obligation; it also makes good business sense. Attention to safety and employee welfare issues can yield valuable returns in improving employee morale, reducing absenteeism and maintaining productivity, while cutting costs arising from accidents and compensations thereof. Health and safety is often regarded as being separate from other workplace issues. As health and safety laws often involve technical issues, laypersons feel that only experts can deal with such matters.

PRIA's learning and experiences of the last two decades, however, defies this myth. We believe most accidents happen because they have not been prevented thus safety is a key issue. This programme titled "Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety" is designed to provide learners with basic information, resources, discussion questions and interactive opportunities that motivate an understanding of Occupational Health and Safety. The methodology and case studies used in the programme are on the one hand tested in the field set up and on the other enriched by PRIA's networking with experts and practitioners.

II. Who can join?

The course is designed for safety officers working in the industry, trade union activists who have involvement for the health and safety of the workers. Members of statutory safety committees, civil society organisation activists interested in taking up the occupational/environmental health issues and medical doctors working in the industry, environmentalists, media persons and all those who are interested in the subject. (list of student of April-07 batch)

III. Special features

•  This innovative course is one of its kinds, at the national, regional and international level, in a distance education mode.

•  A range of conceptual and practical issues on occupational health raised in the course are, on the one hand, tested in the field set up and, on the other hand, enriched by PRIA's networking with experts and practitioners.

•  It has leading national and international academics and practitioners as part of guest faculty.

•  The course material is specially designed and developed to meet special requirements of distance mode of education.

•  To encourage maximum interaction between the instructor and the learners PRIA has developed a Bulletin Board Service wherein the students can post their queries, comments, suggestions, and experiences and participate in the online but asynchronous discussions. The students can also access the tutor through emails and phone.

IV. Course structure

Course goal:

The course is focused on capacity building and demystifying the concepts and practices of the issue and in the long run aims at educating each one concerned about and interested in the subject, in the anticipation, recognition, measurement, prevention, control and remediation of workplace-related hazards and diseases.

To meet the above goal, the course is divided into seven units:

Unit 1: Introduction to occupational health and safety

•  Definition of occupational health and safety
•  Occupational health and safety in developing countries
•  Occupational hazards
•  Occupational hygiene
•  Ergonomics

Unit 2: Sector specific occupational health and safety issues

•  Health and safety risks in mining
•  Health hazards in electronics industry
•  Health hazards in the food processing industry
•  Health hazards in textile industry

Unit 3: Socio-economic aspects of occupational health and safety

•  Women and occupational health safety
•  Child labour and occupational health
•  Health problems in unorganised sector

Unit 4: Health screening measures

•  Stages of medical examination
•  Occupational history
•  Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
•  Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

Unit 5: Basics of preventive techniques

•  Accident analysis
•  Monitoring of hazards
•  Reporting and investigation of accidents
•  Prevention and control of accidents
•  Ensuring safety measure

Unit 6: Occupational health and safety legislations in India

•  Overview of the existing OHS legislations in India
•  The Factories Act
•  The Mines Act
•  The Workmen's Compensation Act
•  The Employee's State Insurance Act
•  Present State of OHS legislations in India

Unit 7: Participatory research in occupational health

•  Philosophy of Participatory Research (PR)
•  Use of participatory research methods in occupational health
•  Conducting participatory research for OHS

V. Learning objectives

On completion of the course the learners would:
•  Acquire basic knowledge of occupational health and safety.
•  Develop preliminary skill in Assessment of occupational hazards.
•  Understand the process of evaluating the occupational hazards.
•  Sequence the steps involved in diagnosis of occupational diseases
•  Know the steps involved in prevention of occupational health hazards.

VI. Team involved in course development and delivery

Faculty

Course designed,developed and advisory

• Jaitli Harsh, Director, PRIA Consultants, New Delhi

Course instructor:

•  Ara, Shabeen (Dr.), Coordinator, PRIA Continuing Education, Delhi

Course authors:

• Jain, Priti, Education Consultant, Creative Learning for Change, New Delhi.
• Pandey, Nimishaa, Former Faculty, PRIA Continuing Education, New Delhi.

Course editor:

Jena, Tapan K. (Dr.), Reader, School of Health Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi.

Secretarial support

•  Joshi, C. S., Sr. Secretary, PRIA Continuing Education, New Delhi.

VII. Admission procedure

Eligibility: The minimum required qualification is Bachelor's degree in any subject.

Mode of delivery: The course is offered in a distance mode, making learning accessible through part time study, outside working hours. Distance delivery includes print materials and immediate and engaged communication through web board.

Duration: The course is of 4 months duration.

Medium of instruction: The course will be delivered in English.

Credits and evaluation: It is a 8-credit course and involves 240 study-hours. Evaluation will be based on written assignments in the form of reflection papers, case study analysis and project work.

Course fee: The course fee is Rs.5000/- or 250 US$ for applicants outside India payable in one installment.

Payment of fee: The fee is to be paid in Demand Draft drawn in favour of "Society for Participatory Research in Asia", payable at New Delhi. The fee can also be paid through Bank Transfer.

Registratin Deadline: The last date for receiving filled in application form is 1st of September, 2008

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