Health, Public Health & Safety
Health & Safety Hazard Identification
Spot, record and control workplace hazards before they cause harm.
Syllabus at a glance
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Hazard, risk and safety culture basics |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Workplace inspection and hazard spotting |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Risk assessment and control hierarchy |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Incident reporting and investigation |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Safety communication and record keeping |
Module breakdown
- 1
Hazard, risk and safety culture basics
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for hazard, risk and safety culture basics and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind hazard, risk and safety culture basics
- Step-by-step methods and templates for hazard, risk and safety culture basics
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in hazard, risk and safety culture basics, and how to avoid them
- Applying hazard, risk and safety culture basics in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying hazard, risk and safety culture basics to a local scenario.
- 2
Workplace inspection and hazard spotting
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for workplace inspection and hazard spotting in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for workplace inspection and hazard spotting
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in workplace inspection and hazard spotting, and how to avoid them
- Applying workplace inspection and hazard spotting in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to workplace inspection and hazard spotting.
- 3
Risk assessment and control hierarchy
Weeks 5–6Practise risk assessment and control hierarchy on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in risk assessment and control hierarchy, and how to avoid them
- Applying risk assessment and control hierarchy in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your risk assessment and control hierarchy work
Assessed work: Group simulation using risk assessment and control hierarchy under time pressure.
- 4
Incident reporting and investigation
Weeks 7–8Turn incident reporting and investigation into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying incident reporting and investigation in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your incident reporting and investigation work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind incident reporting and investigation
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use incident reporting and investigation in your role.
- 5
Safety communication and record keeping
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own safety communication and record keeping work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your safety communication and record keeping work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind safety communication and record keeping
- Step-by-step methods and templates for safety communication and record keeping
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering safety communication and record keeping.
Who this course is for
- • Practitioners and volunteers already working in, or moving into, this area of work.
- • Health workers, facility staff and community health volunteers.
- • School leavers and graduates building a first professional portfolio.
Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
How you are assessed
- • Short module tasks completed during the course.
- • Practical component: Full workplace inspection and risk register submission.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Materials and support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
Certification
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the certificate you should be able to:
- Carry out a workplace safety inspection
- Complete a risk assessment
- Investigate and report an incident
Practical component
Full workplace inspection and risk register submission.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Ready to start Health & Safety Hazard Identification?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.