Background and justification

Training programmes in occupational safety and health exist in the region. Many of them are listed and described in a 1997 report of a review of these programmes.The review was undertaken under the auspices of SADC Employment and Labour Sector (SADC/ELS), and it mapped out the existing training courses for various OSH professionals in southern Africa. The Review identified that with the exception of Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, no other SADC country had any specific health and safety training programme in place. From this report it can be understood that there is a lack of capacity in OSH training, and that many courses and topics are missing, to cover the need for OSH professionals in the region. To make good use of the existing resources there is an obvious need for cooperation among training programmes. This project will coordinate the training and improve the competencies of occupational health and safety professionals in the region.

As part of this project, it will be essential to determine what category of professional such training programmes are targeting, and the academic level of the training. The 1997 review identified 10 "core" OHS professional categories, and a further eight "generalists" who played some role in occupational health. The review recognised that while most countries lacked the human and capital resources to design and undertake professional training, the institutional capacity to support programmes developed in other countries in the region or internationally is possible.

Objectives

- A regional plan for the training of occupational health and safety professionals will be proposed to SADC
- A regional co-ordinating mechanism will be established for the development of new courses and programmes.

Indicators for objective attainment

- The 1997 report of training programmes for OSH professions in SADC is updated after 18 months
- A regional database of existing OSH training capacities is established
- An analysis on major training needs is completed by end of year two
- A proposal for the development of OSH professionals is presented to SADC Directorate SHDSP
- A co-ordinating mechanism is established for the development of new courses and programmes meeting regional needs and standards.

Activities

To be undertaken by the Regional programme director and team with assistance of Resource Complexes (particularly NIOH Clearing House), SADC Directorate SHDSP, and NIWL:
- Updating the 1997 report by
a) Identifying which institutions are conducting occupational health and safety training in the region
b) Determining the category of OSH professional targeted, content and academic level of the programmes
- Determine the existing capacity (number and academic level of professionals) in each category of OSH professionals in the region, using sources such as databases of professional societies and regulatory bodies
- Estimate the required OSH professionals (number and academic level of professionals) throughout the region
- Identify institutions with capacity to enlarge or undertake new OSH training programmes through a postal survey of training institutions
- Submit a proposal to SADC for the regional development of OSH professionals after consultation with tertiary institutions.

Target group

The primary target groups are the institutions training occupational health and safety professionals and the agencies and societies that govern the training of these professionals including SADC