Open Studies Certificate (online)Health & Safety Risk Management

Three innovative modules perfect for individuals with a role in safety or who are interested in adding safety management to their skills set.  

The Strathclyde Centre for Occupational Safety & Health (SCOSH) has developed three part-time online health and safely modules in collaboration with experienced professional safety practitioners and consultants.

These modules will introduce you to the issues facing health, safety, and wellbeing in the workplace, covering a range of topics including risk assessments, reducing workplace accidents, enhancing employee productivity, fostering safer work environments, and building a ‘safety first’ culture.

HSE statistics show that each year, over a million workers are injured or made ill by their work in Great Britain. This can have serious effects on these individuals and their families, as well as employers, government and wider society. (source HSE).

On completion of three sequential modules, students will earn an Open Studies Certificate worth 30 University of Strathclyde credits at SCQF Level 7, equivalent to ¼ of a year’s study at first year undergraduate level.

Our modules provide a comprehensive introduction for individuals without formal training in health and safety. 

  • no entry qualifications required
  • no exams - assessments are relevant to the workplace
  • flexible and online - learn at a time that suits you
  • opportunity to interact with fellow students 
  • develop a variety of skills idea for career progression
  • can count towards professional CPD hours
  • ideal springboard for onward study

If you earn £25,000 or less, funding may be available to you through the Student Awards Agency Scotland’s (SAAS) Part-time Fee Grant (PTFG). Further details below in the Fees and Funding section. 

Principles of Health and Safety Risk Management

This module will introduce learners to the fundamental principles of health and safety risk management that are applicable in all workplace settings.

The module will cover:

  • The legal, financial, and moral landscape surrounding health and safety risk management
  • The key concepts of hazard and risks
  • Qualitative risk assessments
  • Systems for managing health and safety, including measuring health and safety performance
  • The key concepts of incident investigation

Principles of Occupational Health and Wellbeing

This module will introduce learners to the fundamental principles of occupational health, and wellbeing within the workplace.

The module will cover:

  • Occupational health and occupational hygiene, and the significance of work-place ill health
  • How ill-health occurs across a range of hazards
  • Assessing and controlling chemical & biological hazards
  • Assessing and controlling physical and psychosocial hazards
  • Recognising the relationships and differences between wellbeing and Occupational Health

Introduction to Human Factors

This module introduce learners to Human Factors and the organisational, environmental and job factors which can affect health and safety at work.

The module will cover:

  • Defining Human Factors and explain how it contributes to workplace health and safety

  • Identifying Job Factors, Individual Factors and Organisation Factors and the effect they can have on the health and safety of workers

  • Assessing Human Factors in the workplace
 
Is this Certificate right for you?

This Certificate is relevant to many sectors and workplace settings and is a great addition to your CV, providing useful transferable skills. It is suited to those who have some oversight or involvement with health, safety and wellbeing within their roles whether in the public or private sector.

Full details on entry requirements, start dates, funding and how to apply can be found below.  

Note: These modules were previously offered under the 'Upskilling' programme. 

Registration is now open for 2025 modules! 

 

The Certificate has no formal entry qualifications and is offered in an online format for maximum flexibility and fitting around busy working and home lives.

It is an ideal starting point for those who wish to gain an insight into the health and safety requirements of workplaces and good practice in this field.  Each module is designed by practitioners to have direct applicability to workplace settings.

Each module will be delivered online over 6 weeks. Students can study from their own home at whatever time they choose during this period. 

Module  1 - Principles of Health and Safety Risk Management: start Monday 3rd of February and complete w/c Monday 10th of March.

Module 2 - Principles of Occupational Health and Wellbeing: start Monday 31st of March and complete w/c Monday 5th of May.  

Module 3 - Introduction to Human Factors: start Monday 26th of May and complete w/c Monday 30th of June. 

 

 

You should allow around 20 hours per week to undertake the various tasks associated with the module.

Throughout your studies, you will have access to a tutor, to ensure you receive the support you need.  

At the end of each week of learning, students will be required to write a 300-word reflective log relating to the learning that took place that week (70%).

At the end of the module, students will complete an online multiple choice test (30%).

All elements of assessment must be successfully completed to receive an award. 

Fees

The full fee for the Open Studies Certificate in Health & Safety Risk Management is £450.00.

Full payment is due at the time of booking.

Funding

The Open Studies Certificate is worth 30 university credits at SCQF Level 7.

If you earn £25,000 or less, funding may be available to you through the Student Awards Agency Scotland’s (SAAS) Part-time Fee Grant (PTFG). This will fund a portion of the Open Studies Certificate course fee (£321 in 2024/25). The application closing date for the current academic session is the 31st of March 2025. 

Find out more about the fund and how to apply.

Note that payment of the full course fee is due at the time of booking.

If you do make a successful SAAS PTFG application we will contact you directly to request a copy of your Award Notice. Once we have received SAAS funding we will refund you the balance of fees paid.

 

 

Visit our online catalogue 'MyCLL', create an account and book your place on the Open Studies Certificate in Health and Safety Risk Management.