About the Skills Programme

The Skills Programme: Workplace Preparedness and Risk Control (SP-200901) is a QCTO-aligned programme that prepares learners to recognise, assess and control workplace health hazards, with particular attention to communicable and other occupational diseases. The programme responds directly to South Africa's need for competent health and safety capacity at the operational level, and it equips learners to spot a hazard before it causes harm, apply the correct control, record what they find, and escalate when a situation exceeds their authority.

The programme integrates theoretical knowledge, practical skills and applied workplace activity across the full risk control cycle — from understanding what the law requires, through hazard identification and risk assessment, to occupational hygiene controls, disease prevention and ongoing monitoring. On completion, learners are able to distinguish a hazard from a risk, obtain hazard information from safety data sheets and other correct sources, conduct a basic workplace health risk assessment, apply the anticipate-recognise-evaluate-control hygiene cycle, implement measures to prevent the spread of communicable and occupational disease, and work within the framework of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

Purpose

The purpose of this skills programme is to equip employees with the basic principles of workplace preparedness and risk control for communicable and other occupational diseases, so that they can apply protective and preventive measures safely. The programme does not train occupational hygienists or safety officers. It trains the person on the floor who knows what to look for, knows what the law requires, knows how to record what they find, and knows when to stop and escalate.

Who Should Enrol?

This programme is designed for general employees who carry health and safety responsibility as part of their role, as well as those newly appointed to a safety function. It is well suited to:

• SHE representatives and OHS assistants, whether newly appointed or already serving.
• Team leaders and supervisors accountable for the safety of a work area or crew.
• Cleaning, facilities and maintenance staff who work directly with chemicals, dust, noise or biological hazards.
• Reception and front-of-house staff exposed to public contact and communicable disease risk.
• Members of health and safety committees, and employers meeting their duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Entry Requirements

Learners must be able to read, write and communicate in English at NQF Level 1 or equivalent. No prior health and safety knowledge is assumed. Because the programme requires learners to apply their learning to a real workplace, learners must have access to a workplace, or to a simulated work environment provided by the training provider. Recognition of Prior Learning for access is available in accordance with the QCTO RPL Policy.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme are equipped to take up or strengthen roles that carry frontline health and safety responsibility. Outcomes include:

• SHE representative or occupational health and safety assistant.
• Team leader or supervisor with delegated safety accountability.
• Health and safety committee member.
• Facilities, cleaning or hygiene services team member with hazard control duties.
• Entry point toward further OHS study at NQF Levels 3 to 5.