Diploma in Occupational Health

The Wits School of Public Health, in association with the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), offers a Diploma in Occupational Health (DOH) over two years part-time.

Who qualifies for the DOH?

The diploma is for doctors who work or intend to work in occupational health in the public or private sectors. Students who complete the programme will have the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work as occupational health practitioners.

Course Structure

The DOH is part-time over two years. It is offered in eight courses of one week each, including experiential learning between courses. Occupational hygiene and toxicology, occupational medicine and occupational health are the strengths of this DOH. Practical skills development is seen as an important focus.

Occupational medicine

Respiratory, ENT, skin, neurological and psychosocial conditions. Musculo-skeletal, reproductive, renal, hepatic, haemopoietic systems. Chest radiology, audiometry, lung function, allergy and neuro-behavioural testing. Disability assessment, rehabilitation, and commonly occurring occupational diseases in South Africa. The aetiology, diagnosis, prevention, screening, reporting and further management of these conditions

Occupational hygiene and toxicology

Risk assessment; Hazardous exposures; Principles of toxicology; Principles of occupational hygiene; Measurement and control technologies; Exposure standards; Ergonomic hazards and principles of control; Psychosocial hazards and conditions.

Occupational health

Industrial relations applied to health and safety; Health and Safety legislation, policy and programmes (e.g. HIV/AIDS at work); Worker participation; Environmental policy and impacts; Occupational health services: Design and management of workplace health services; Medical surveillance and biological monitoring; Ethical issues relating to industrial relations and the role of the occupational health service provider.Compensation.

Epidemiology

Basic principles including study design, measures of occurrence, measures of

effect, bias and validity issues, confounding, effect measure modification, causality and critical appraisal of literature. These are applied to exposure assessment, health assessment and occupational health services issues as a guide in designing studies. Measurement of the burden of disease

Additional Components

Homework and assignments

A considerable aspect of the programme will be participant driven, with selected reading material before each block. Self learning and self study will be important aspects of the course.

Experiential learning between courses will involve a practical (hands-on) systematic approach to managing an occupational health issue. There are seven inter-course tasks including:

• identification and description of a workplace of your choice;
• risk assessment;
• identification of a relevant risk and literature search;
• specific subject topics.

Due guidance and support will be given by Wits tutors and the staff of the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH).

During each block, the students will visit a variety of work places (e.g. mine, factory, etc) to gain practical experience and familiarize themselves with processes in various industries.

Examinations will be held at the end of the second year of study.

Please note that attendance at each course is a requirement for the Diploma.

CPD points will be given on completion of the diploma.

Registration

Each student is required to contact the postgraduate office on 011 717 2108 with regards to registration.Note: You are required to register for the second year at the beginning of the second year.Please ensure that you are registered, as unregistered students cannot sit for the examinations.

Academic Enquiries

Download the brochure [.pdf]

Professor Tony Cantrell
National Institute for Occupational Health
Tel: 082 364 3142
accantrell@hotmail.com

Dr Spo Kgalamono
National Institute for Occupational Health
Tel: (011) 712-6415
spo.kgalamono@nioh.nhls.ac.za

The Postgraduate Office
Tel: 27 11 717-2076
Fax: 27 11 717-2119
Ee-mail: healthpg@health.wits.ac.za

Applications must include:

Wits University postgraduate application forms (Electronic forms available on www.wits.ac.za/health/publichealth. Go to Postgraduate Studies and then Health Sciences Faculty.)

Written motivation as to why the applicant has selected Occupational Health.

Current Curriculum Vitae