UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

INTERIM REGISTRATION OF PROGRAMMES ON THE NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK

Note:	Qualifications are degrees, diplomas and certificates that have been 
subjected to a process of recordal, completed in 1998.   These qualifications 
now have to be registered for an interim period ending 30 June 2003.   In order 
to be registered for each programme we have to provide a set of outcomes and 
the associated assessment criteria.   This information has to be submitted to the 
South African Qualifications Authority by 30 June 2000.

A programme is a curriculum which leads to a qualification

PROGRAMME NAME
	Occupational Health/occupational medicine	

QUALIFICATION TO WHICH
THIS PROGRAMME LEADS
	Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health	

OFFICIAL ABBREVIATION
OF QUALIFICATION
	DOH	

NQF FIELD (S)
	09 (Health Sciences and Social Services) Subfield: Preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative	
NQF-LEVEL	7	

1.	A STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

This qualification forms part of the credentialling process, for health professionals, principally     medical professionals, but not excluding other graduates, as practitioners in occupational health/medicine. The Occupational Health and Safety Act stipulates this diploma as a training requirement  for practice in occupational health in South Africa.  The qualification is also recognised by the Health Professional Council of South Africa and can be recorded as such by the HPCSA, although it is not equivalent to a registrable speciality in Occupational Health/Medicine. The aim of this qualification is to meet the needs for formal examination certification, as well as to set standards, nationally, for such a qualification (equivalent qualifications may be offered by the country’s 8 medical schools). 

2.	ASSUMPTIONS FOR LEARNING ALREADY IN PLACE BEFORE THE PROGRAMME LEADING TO THE QUALIFICATION IS 
COMMENCED

2A
Please record, in free text, a description of the skills and content required for entrance to the programme.   This should be sufficient to allow for the testing of a non-traditional applicant, and for the evaluation of an applicant seeking admission on the basis of RPL.

MB ChB, MB BCh, other health professional degree or other Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the Health Sciences Faculty at the University of Cape Town.

Experience in occupational health practice is recommended

2B

2.1	Senior certificate with Matriculation Exemption or 
Equivalent university admission qualification
	
YES
X	
NO	

2.2	First degree:  [If  YES, state title of degree(s)]
MBChB, Other Health Professional degree, other bachelors	
YES
X	
NO	

2.3	Honours degree:  [If YES, state title of degree(s)]
	
YES	
NOX	

2.4	Master’s degree (s):  [If YES, state title of degree(s)]
	
YES	
NOX	

2.5	Other qualification(s) [state name of qualification(s)]  NONE

2.6	Recognition of Prior Learning (e.g. Work or field experience (if applicable)
Yes as above	

2.7	State specific additional requirements (e.g. matric subjects)
Mathematics for matric	

3.	EXIT-LEVEL OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT 
CRITERIA

     s.   The assessment criteria are the criteria against which the 
learner’s performance demonstrating the attainment of learning outcomes can 
be judged..

EXIT-LEVEL OUTCOMES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, VALUES) INCLUDING CROSS-FIELD OUTCOMES	
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA	

(a)	Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning)

1.  Demonstrates in practice an interdisciplinary or holistic perspective, and is able to:

	

1.1  Integrate perspectives and skills from a variety of disciplines in medicine, public health, management, law and social sciences, in problem solving at individual, group or organisational level.

1.2  Work effectively with a range of professionals and practitioners engaged in occupational health.

1.3	Reflect in problem solving an 
in-depth understanding of 
the institutional, legal, and ethical 
context of occupational medical
 and occupational health problems. 

	

(b) General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

See items 16,17 & 18 below	 

See items 16,17 & 18 below	

(c) Specific Outcomes, including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

1. Is a sound clinician, and is able to:

 

2. Has special competence in medical surveillance and biological monitoring, and is able to:

3. Has special competence in health risk assessment, and is able to:

4. Has special competence in occupational health service design and audit, and is able to:

5.  Has special competence in occupational health and safety law, and is able to:

6. Has special competence in fitness, impairment and disability assessment and workplace accommodation and disability management, and is able to:

 

7.	 Has special competence in ethics in occupational health, and is able to:

8. Has a sound knowledge of health promotion and management of common community and lifestyle diseases in the workplace, and is able to: 

9. Has a sound knowledge of epidemiology and research method and is able to:

10. Is familiar with the discipline of Occupational Hygiene, and is able to:  

11.	Is familiar with the discipline of Toxicology,  and is able to:

12. Is familiar with the discipline of Ergonomics, and is able to:

13. Has an understanding of Industrial Relations, and is able to:

14.  Is a competent Manager of operations, and is able to:

15. Has an understanding of health care delivery systems and benefits management, and is able to:

16. Has an understanding of  information systems, and is able to:

17. Is competent in adult education and training, and is able to:

18. Is a competent communicator, and is able to: 

19.   Has an understanding  of Environmental Management,  and is able to:

20. Has an understanding of Disaster Management, and is able to:

	

1.1	Exercise competence in all aspects, including examination, diagnosis, management and/or appropriate referral, of work related disease or disability or threats to health and well-being.

1.2 These should cover work-related respiratory, dermatology, musculoskeletal,ENT, ophthalmology,  neurology, reproductive, cardiology, haematology, and psychiatric and infectious conditions.

1.3	 Interpret chest radiology, lung function testing, bronchial challenge testing, audiometry, toxicological testing,vision screening,  hematological and biochemical testing, testing of infection and immune function, allergy testing, and patch testing. 

1.4	 Refer appropriately those conditions requiring further investigation and management.   

1.5	 Assess, manage and/or refer occupational trauma and workplace emergencies.

1.6	 Counsel and/or  refer employees with  substance abuse and other psychosocial problems affecting work capacity. 

1.7 Advise on immunisation and prophylaxis against infectious disease arising from or affecting work, including employee travel and migrant labour.

1.8	 Assess, manage and/or refer common adult primary care problems.

2.1  Design medical surveillance programmes. 

2.2 Set up surveillance and biological monitoring protocols, including liaison with laboratories.

2.3  Apply and interpret specific tests. 

2.4	 Evaluate cost-effectiveness of medical surveillance and biological monitoring protocols.

3.1  Understand definitions of  “risk assessment” as used in different contexts, viz. workplace, epidemiological, toxicological, accident/disaster and environmental contexts .

3.2  Conduct a workplace health risk assessment in a wide range of workplaces, and integrate relevant data from a variety of sources.

3.3. Able to assess workplace conditions against relevant standards and regulations.

4.1. Understand the array of potential functions of a workplace based health service and to design and organise optimal mix for different contexts, including first aid, primary care, and occupational health components.

4.2.  Link the occupational health service to existing safety, environment, human resources and other management subsystems in the organisation. 

4.3. Apply quality assurance methods to occupational health services.

4.4. Apply common audit procedures to occupational health and safety systems,  and assist in preparation for such audits.

5.1  Advise others on and apply the main laws in occupational health and safety, and  other laws of relevance to occupational health.

5.2  Work with lawyers on matters of  civil law pertaining to occupational health.

6.1  Assess the fitness of workers for particular jobs.

6.2  Assess fitness requirements for high risk jobs, viz, miners, drivers, seafarers, pilots and divers.

6.3	 Assess or arrange assessment of workers with impairment and/or disability, including problems related to drug and alcohol dependency, psychotropic medication use, psychiatric problems and  post-traumatic stress disorder.

6.4. Counsel, and assist accommodation if necessary, of pregnant workers.

6.5 Initiate and manage processes for rehabilitation of disabled workers.

6.6  Apply understanding of the impact of any chronic or recurrent condition on work ability, and advise on any accommodation required.

6.7.  Follow procedures for compensating occupational disease and injury, and advise on medical aspects of claims procedures. 

6.8  Follow procedures required for disability retirement processes, and contribute medical advice and expertise to assist resolution of claims. 

7.1   Assert the importance of ethical approaches in occupational medicine in the face of conflicts of interest. 

7.2   Advise others on ethical  principles and practice with regard to subjects such as confidentiality, sickness certification, HIV screening,  drug and alcohol screening and consent for surveillance.

7.3   Contribute practically to the resolution of potential or actual conflicts with medical ethical and medico-legal dimensions.

8.1. Apply the  principles of health promotion.

8.2. Develop health promotion programmes for specific conditions, including HIV, TB, STDs, tobacco and alcohol related conditions.

8.3. Manage, in collaboration with other services, conditions requiring an interdisciplinary approach such as substance abuse, stress ailments, mental illness, cardiovascular disease.

9.1  Apply the principles of epidemiological measurement, study design and causal inference.

9.2  Initiate and draft a research protocol.

9.3  Appraise critically occupational health and medical literature.

9.4	 Participate in workplace based epidemiological studies, including sentinel and cluster investigations, aetiologic and intervention studies and formal health services evaluation.

9.5  Handle, analyse and interpret data, with support from appropriate specialists.

10.1 Apply the basic principles of occupational hygiene, including measurement, control and evaluation.

10.2 Interpret and apply data and recommendations from occupational hygiene reports.

10.3. Characterise the common hazards in a wide range of production processes found in South Africa.

10.4. Advise on practical control systems for air pollutants, skin irritants, noise, heat, etc.

10.5. Advise on personal protective equipment and its limitations.

11.1. Apply the basic principles of occupational toxicology.

11.2. Extract and use toxicological information.

11.3. Interpret material safety data sheets. 

11.4. Communicate relevant toxicological information to a lay audience.

12.1. Apply the basic principles of ergonomics.

12.2. Carry out a basic ergonomic risk assessment.

12.3	 Advise on common control strategies to prevent ergonomically related injuries or ill health. 

13.1. Apply the basic principles of industrial relations within the relevant institutional and workplace framework.

13.2. Contribute constructively and ethically to resolution of industrial relations conflicts involving health matters.

14.1. Write and revise strategic and operational plans, including budgets and procedures, for occupational health services or operating units.

14.2.  To plan, organise, staff, finance, monitor and control an occupational health service or other operating unit.

14.3. Chair, direct and contribute to committee work.

15.1.  Understand the structure and dynamics of health care delivery and financing in South Africa.

15.2	Contribute to health care and 
benefits policies of organisations

16.1  Demonstrate  computer literacy. 

16.2  Use the internet and electronic and paper databases for information retrieval.

16.3 Design clinic, workplace, company or regional record/health information system for management, covering injuries and illnesses.

16.4. Use an information system to evaluate health and safety performance or clinical service. 

17.1. Apply  the principles of adult education and learning.

17.2. Prepare training materials for a variety of audiences.

17.3. Conduct training seminars for a variety of audiences

17.4. Evaluate training sessions and materials

18.1. Communicate individually and in group situations with all participants in workplace organisations and occupational health: management, employees, union representatives and fellow professionals.

18.2. Write clear and concise documents: proposals, policies, reports.

18.3. Communicate risk information.

19.1.  Contribute to  environmental impact assessment. 

19.2. Contribute to the environmental component of a safety, health and environment policy for workplaces (or regions or districts).

19.3  Communicate with representatives of residents/ third party groups affected by workplace operations. 

20.1Contribute to a disaster management plan tailored to the workplace, including provision for mass exposure and casualty scenarios.	

4.  TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED

For a 3 year degree			360 credits of which at least 72 credits
Shall be at level 6 (=3rd year level) or above.

For a 4 year degree			480 credits

For a Postgraduate Diploma		120 credits

For an Honours degree		120 credits

For a Masters degree			120 credits

For a doctoral degree			240 credits

CREDITS REQUIRED 	Credits	 	
 	Credits for core learning (course work):	320	 	
 	Credits for self-directed learning :	320	 	
 	Credits for research project:	320	 	
 	Credits for homework:	240	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	Total credits required:	1200	 	

4.	MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED AT SPECIFIC LEVELS

NQF LEVEL
	
NUMBER OF CREDITS	
7
	1200	

5.	INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Integrated assessment is designed to collect evidence from the candidate to demonstrate that the purpose(s) of the programme as a whole has been achieved, that the exit level outcomes have been attained.   It is often used to assess, at the exit point from a programme, the integration and application of knowledge, skills (and values/attitudes) learnt from across all the component courses in a programme.

Inevitably, integrated assessment demands a variety of assessment methods such as portfolios, simulations, work-place assessment, written examinations, oral examinations.  The combination of these methods provides evidence that the learner has achieved the applied competence at the exit point of a programme that the programme claims as its purpose.   ().

ASSESSMENT TO ENSURE THE PURPOSE OF THE DEGREE IS ACHIEVED	
 	Evauation is based on :
1.	classroom participation – attendance of 8 full week blocks is a requirement 
2.	 homework – clinical, epidemiological, toxicological and statistical  excercises.  
3.  self-directed learning – a wide range of readings is required and assessed by a formal literature review 
4.  a research protocol development and research project report  is assessed at a final oral presentation and written report
5.  Three  three hour written papers on 
 
a) Epidemiology & statistics
b) Occupational medicine  & toxicology
c)  Occupational health services management& organisation including safety, legislation and industrial hygiene

 6.  An oral examination by a panel of at least 3 examiners  	
 	Overall pass mark is 50%	

 		

6.	ARTICULATION POSSIBILITIES WITH RELATED 
QUALIFICATIONS

6.1	Title(s) of related qualification(s)

	1.  Previous Bachelor’s degrees as listed above
2.  Specialist qualification in Public Health   Medicine
3.	Sub-specialist qualification in Occupational Health

3.  Future specialisation in occupational medicine.	

6.2	This qualification serves as an entry   
Point to the related qualification(s).
(Fill in YES or NO in each case).
	1.  NO
2.  NO
3.  NO	

6.3	This qualification provides credits 
For the related qualification(s).  (Fill in YES or NO in each case).	1.  NO
2.  YES
3.  YES	

6.4	Other articulation possibilities, either  generic or specific (please specify)

7.	CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University.

CRITERIA FOR REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS
Examiners will be based in the  candidate’s own training institution, with the exception of an external examiner at the final examination. 
There will be a panel of at least three examiners appointed for each biennial  cycle of written examinations and orals.  At least one of these will be external to UCT.
 Qualifications required: All examiners should hold specialist qualifications in public health medicine or occupational health/medicine or have an equivalent specialist medical qualification with experience in occupational health.  Alternatively, examiners should hold a postgraduate diploma in occupational health or medicine or equivalent  from an South African or overseas university.
Experience required:  Experience in occupational health practice and in teaching occupational health is a necessity.  Research experience is an advantage.
Other criteria:  All of the examiners should hold an academic appointment, which may be part-time or full-time.

8.	MODERATION OPTIONS

The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of  each course.   One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department.

COMPILED BY;

Faculty Office Manager…………………..Date …………….

Programme Convener………PROF J E MYERS…………….Date………7 APRIL 2000……...

APROVED BY:

Dean of the Faculty of …………………….Signed………….Dates…………..

c:loraine\N/4/Interim NQF Registration