Doctoral Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Management

1. Advanced Occupational Safety and Health Management Theory : Examines advanced theories and models of occupational safety and health management, prevention, accident causation, safety performance, systems thinking, worker protection, organisational risk and the evolution of modern OSH practice.

2. Strategic OSH Governance, Policy and Leadership : Develops advanced understanding of OSH governance, executive accountability, policy development, safety leadership, worker participation, organisational responsibility, strategic planning, ethical decision-making and integration of OSH into wider organisational governance.

3. Advanced Occupational Risk Assessment and Risk Management : Explores complex hazard identification, risk assessment, risk evaluation, risk treatment, critical controls, dynamic risk assessment, uncertainty, hierarchy of controls, risk communication and enterprise-level occupational risk management.

4. Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene and Workplace Wellbeing : Examines occupational exposure, industrial hygiene, occupational disease prevention, ergonomics, health surveillance, fatigue, work-related ill health, chemical and biological hazards, workplace wellbeing and evidence-based occupational-health interventions.

5. Human Factors, Safety Culture and Psychosocial Risk : Analyses human performance, organisational behaviour, safety culture, human error, safety leadership, fatigue, competence, communication, psychosocial hazards and the interaction between people, technology, work systems and organisational conditions. ISO 45003:2021 provides guidance for managing psychosocial risks within an OH&S management system based on ISO 45001.

6. Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems and ISO 45001 : Develops advanced capability in designing, implementing, evaluating and improving OSH management systems, including policy, organisational context, worker participation, planning, operational control, performance evaluation and continual improvement. ISO currently lists ISO 45001:2018 as the published current standard, with Amendment 1:2024, while ISO/DIS 45001 is under development as its future replacement.

7. Incident Investigation, Emergency Management and Organisational Resilience : Examines advanced incident investigation, causal analysis, serious-event learning, emergency preparedness, crisis response, business-continuity interfaces, disaster preparedness and organisational resilience following significant OSH events.

8. OSH Auditing, Compliance, Assurance and Performance Analytics : Develops advanced competence in OSH auditing, regulatory and procedural compliance evaluation, leading and lagging indicators, performance dashboards, assurance activities, benchmarking, management review and evidence-based improvement. ILO guidance also identifies auditing as an important means of evaluating OSH management-system performance.

9. Doctoral Research Methodology in Occupational Safety and Health : Develops advanced competence in research philosophy, critical literature review, research questions, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, mixed-method research, data collection, statistical reasoning, validity, reliability, research ethics, evidence appraisal, academic writing and dissemination.

10. Doctoral Applied Occupational Safety and Health Research Project : Requires learners to investigate a complex OSH problem through substantial independent research or advanced practice-based enquiry, producing an original evidence-based contribution, validated framework, strategic intervention, applied model or other defensible advancement in occupational safety and health management.

Successful learners can develop:

• Advanced theoretical understanding of occupational safety and health management.

• Strategic OSH governance and leadership capability.

• Advanced risk assessment and risk-management competence.

• Occupational health and industrial-hygiene knowledge.

• Understanding of human factors, safety culture and psychosocial risks.

• Advanced OSH management-system capability.

• Incident-investigation and organisational-resilience skills.

• OSH audit, assurance and performance-analytics capability.

• Advanced research and critical evidence-evaluation skills.

• Ability to develop an original or advanced practice contribution to OSH management.

The ILO emphasises that effective OSH management systems integrate prevention into wider organisational management and should be tailored to organisational needs, while continuously evaluating and improving the level of prevention and protection.

The qualification is suitable for experienced professionals including:

• Senior Occupational Safety and Health Managers.

• HSE, SHE and QHSE Directors.

• Corporate safety and risk leaders.

• Occupational safety and health consultants.

• Safety governance and compliance specialists.

• Senior OSH auditors and assurance professionals.

• Occupational health and workplace wellbeing practitioners.

• Risk, resilience and emergency-management professionals.

• Senior managers responsible for OSH management systems.

• Experienced practitioners seeking advanced research capability in OSH.

Assessment Format: Doctoral-level assessment combining advanced written examination, critical literature reviews, strategic OSH case studies, risk-analysis projects, OSH management-system evaluations, audit and assurance activities, research-methodology assessment, professional presentations, viva-style defence and a substantial independent research project.

Total Questions: 60 Questions in the formal knowledge-assessment component, supplemented by substantial research, project and practice-based assessments.

Passing Score: 70% in the formal knowledge-assessment component, together with successful completion of all required research, project, presentation and viva components.

Duration: 180 Minutes for the formal knowledge examination component.

Certification: Successful learners receive the HiQual UK Doctoral Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Management, subject to the qualification's approved assessment, supervision, examination and quality-assurance arrangements.

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Doctoral Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Management may progress to:

• Further doctoral research, professional doctorate or PhD/DPhil pathways, subject to the receiving institution's admissions, research and credit-recognition requirements.

• Senior positions including Director of Occupational Safety and Health, Corporate HSE Director, Group Safety Director, Head of OSH, Safety Governance Director and Enterprise Risk Leader.

• Advanced consultancy and advisory roles in OSH management systems, risk governance, safety culture, organisational resilience and occupational-health strategy.

• Research, policy and academic-practice positions involving advanced OSH research and knowledge development.

• Executive development in integrated management systems, sustainability, operational risk, resilience, governance and organisational performance.