Occupational Health and Safety in the Workplace
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is important because it protects people at work. It helps prevent injuries, accidents, and illness. It also protects employers by reducing risk and ensuring compliance with the law.
In South Africa, the Department of Employment and Labour (DOEL) enforces OHS legislation. Employers must create safe working conditions. Employees must also follow safety rules and procedures.
Every workplace must follow legal guidance such as Acts, Regulations, and Codes of Practice. Each country has its own laws, so it is important to understand the rules that apply where you work. Not knowing the law is not an excuse.
This module focuses on OHS in commercial diving operations. It introduces the key laws, documents, and safety requirements that guide safe diving work in South Africa.
Key areas covered include:
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What Occupational Health and Safety is, and why it matters
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How OHS protects both employees and employers
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The role of the Department of Employment and Labour (DOEL)
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Legal responsibilities of employers and employees
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The purpose of Acts and Regulations in the workplace
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The Commercial Diving Regulations of South Africa and how they apply to operations
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Codes of Practice and why they are important
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Guidance documents for diving equipment, operations, and personnel
By the end of this section, you will understand key OHS principles, legal responsibilities, and how to apply the Commercial Diving Regulations to safe diving operations.
Reference:
Commercial Diving Regulations 2022 South Africa
Course Features
- Lectures 37
- Quiz 1
- Duration Lifetime access
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 221
- Certificate Yes
- Assessments Yes
- 7 Sections
- 37 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Introduction to Diving Legislation1
- Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Regulations
Objective: Understand the purpose of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and how it applies to commercial diving operations.
Knowledge Assessment: Explain key OHSA definitions, employer and employee duties, reporting requirements, and safety representative roles.
Skills Assessment: Apply legal duties to workplace scenarios by identifying compliance requirements and safe conduct obligations.
6 - Health and Safety in different industries
Objective: Understand the purpose of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and how it applies to commercial diving operations.
Knowledge Assessment: Explain key OHSA definitions, employer and employee duties, reporting requirements, and safety representative roles.
Skills Assessment: Apply legal duties to workplace scenarios by identifying compliance requirements and safe conduct obligations.
9 - Commercial Diving Regulations
Objective: Understand the purpose and scope of the Commercial Diving Regulations and how they apply to diving operations in South Africa.
Knowledge Assessment: Explain key regulatory requirements relating to personnel roles, equipment standards, training and assessment, medical fitness, emergency protocols, and record keeping.
Skills Assessment: Apply regulatory requirements to operational scenarios by identifying compliance responsibilities and required documentation.
19- 4.1Definitions
- 4.2Plant and machinery
- 4.3Risk assessment
- 4.4Medical Surveilance
- 4.5Designated Medical Practitioner
- 4.6Information, Instruction and Training
- 4.7Control of Diving Operations
- 4.8Training standards, assessment criteria and codes of practice
- 4.9Duties of the Client
- 4.10Duties of employer
- 4.11Duties of The Diving School
- 4.12Duties of persons involved in commercial diving
- 4.13Commercial diving supervisor and instructor
- 4.14Commercial Diver and Line Attendants
- 4.15Systems Technician
- 4.16Recompression chamber operations
- 4.17Records
- 4.18Chambers
- 4.19PDF
- Commercial Diving Inshore (COP)
Objective: Understand the purpose of the Commercial Diving Inshore Code of Practice (COP) and how it supports safe working procedures.
Knowledge Assessment: Explain key COP principles, operational requirements, and guidance for safe inshore diving activities.
Skills Assessment: Apply COP guidance to practical scenarios by identifying correct procedures and compliance expectations.
1 - Training Standards
Objective: Understand commercial diving training standards and how competence is measured and maintained.
Knowledge Assessment: Explain training standards, assessment criteria, and the role of accreditation and quality assurance.
Skills Assessment: Apply training standard requirements to identify competence expectations for commercial diving roles.
1 - Quiz
Objective: Demonstrate understanding of key legislative and compliance requirements through formative assessment.
Knowledge Assessment: Recall and explain core legal obligations and safety responsibilities for commercial diving operations.
Skills Assessment: Apply legal knowledge to answer scenario-based questions and demonstrate workplace compliance awareness.
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