Course/Block Coordinator
Dr Greg Kew
Tel: 021 531 4926
Email: kewg@iafrica.com
Overall Programme Convenor
Professor Jonny Myers
Tel (021) 4066898
Fax: (021) 4066163
Email: myers@cormack.uct.ac.za
Programme Administrator
Mrs Dot Manley
Tel (021) 406 6495
Fax: (021) 4066163
Email: dotm@cormack.uct.ac.za
Other Lecturers can be contacted through the above-mentioned
Block description
The aims, objectives, functions and structures of occupational health services are dealt with from the perspective of different parties in industry (labour, management, state departments concerned with occupational health, health professionals in the workplace). Different structural models of health care financing and provision, as well as planning and logistics for running health services at work, are included. Medical ethics as they relate to industrial relations are covered, as well as discussion about comparative occupational health systems in other parts of the world. Familiarity is gained with audit procedures for evaluating workplace health services.
Block Objectives
The SAQA exit level outcomes including knowledge and skills regarding occupational health services management in the DOH.
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2. Has special competence in medical surveillance and biological monitoring, and is able to:
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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.
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4. Has special competence in occupational health service design and audit, and is able to:
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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.
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6. Has special competence in fitness, impairment and disability assessment and workplace accommodation and disability management, and is able to:
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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.
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7. Has special competence in ethics in occupational health, and is able to:
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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.
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8. Has a sound knowledge of health promotion and management of common community and lifestyle diseases in the workplace, and is able to:
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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.
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14. Is a competent Manager of operations, and is able to:
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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.
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15. Has an understanding of health care delivery systems and benefits management, and is able to:
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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
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16. Has an understanding of information systems, and is able to:
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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.
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17. Is competent in adult education and training, and is able to:
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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
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18. Is a competent communicator, and is able to:
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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.
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A timetable is provided for the block. The times allocated in this timetable are those that are required to master the materials provided on the CD ROM. It is anticipated that for each hour allocated to self-directed learning you will spend another 2 hours fully mastering the contents of the block.
Each session deals with a specific topic and is organised and presented with the following headings:
General (section) Objectives
Specific (section) Objectives
These appear at the top of the first screen for each section.
Objectives include the knowledge or competencies that it is intended you achieve after you have completed each session. At the end of each
section you should ask yourself whether you feel you have mastered the
material and whether you have been able to complete the self test questions
on the last page of each section (not
every session has one) in such a way that you really understand what is
going on, and are happy that in your case the objectives at the beginning
of the session have been met. Only then is it recommended that you go
on to the next section. At all times you can contact your designated tutor
by email or by phone to ask questions. You should not wait and struggle
but rather ask questions as soon as you have difficulties.
Section Activities
For each sections a list of activities is suggested to assist you in reaching the objectives. These include a range of resources and materials from hardcopy texts to web-based and other electronic resources (on CDROM or videotape), worked examples and exercises. These resource materials are supplied at different levels - introductory and more detailed and specific and in-depth. You are encouraged to direct your own learning by going further into topics and into the scientific literature and reference texts. There is therefore no limit to these activities other than your interest and time availability. However, you do need to complete all of the basic informational activities. Hyperlinks to relevant websites will be inserted where appropriate, when the source material does not appear on the CD..
Section exercises and quizzes
In order to help you evaluate your performance, we have prepared a series of self-test exercises. Try to answer these questions by yourself. It is a way of checking that you have reached the objectives. Answers to the exercises are built in. You can repeat these exercises again and again until you feel that you have mastered the content of the sessions.
As homework in the interblock period you will receive tasks that will be marked and constitute part of your year's mark record.
Session Reference materials:
References are divided into hardcopy and web references. You must try your best to access all the reference materials. We have tried to keep them short in order not to overload you with too much material. However, there is much more to read than just these required readings. You are also strongly encouraged to look further afield for relevant references - this is the essence of self-directed learning.