Introduction

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for Trade Unions is a critical capacity-building program designed to strengthen worker protection, workplace safety culture, risk prevention systems, and labour rights advocacy in modern industries. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for Trade Unions Training Course equips participants with the competencies needed to identify hazards, assess risks, and enforce safe working conditions, injury prevention, and occupational risk management systems across all sectors.

The course also focuses on empowering unions to become proactive stakeholders in occupational risk assessment, workplace inspections, incident investigation, and collective bargaining for health and safety clauses. Participants will develop skills in hazard identification, ergonomics, psychosocial risk control, emergency preparedness, and safety audits, while learning how to engage employers and regulatory bodies effectively.

Programme Curriculum

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for Trade Unions Training Course

Introduction

Course Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

Strengthen knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws and ILO conventions
Build capacity in workplace hazard identification and risk assessment
Develop skills in incident reporting, accident investigation, and root cause analysis
Enhance understanding of industrial hygiene and exposure control
Promote psychosocial risk management and workplace mental health awareness
Enable effective safety audits and workplace inspections
Strengthen union negotiation skills for OSH clauses in collective bargaining agreements
Improve understanding of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) standards and compliance
Build capacity in emergency preparedness and disaster response planning
Strengthen advocacy for decent work and safe working environments
Develop leadership in worker participation in safety committees
Enhance understanding of ergonomics and injury prevention strategies
Promote a culture of zero harm, safety leadership, and continuous improvement systems

Target Audience

Trade union leaders and executive members
Shop stewards and workplace representatives
Health and safety committee members
Labour inspectors and compliance officers
Industrial relations officers
Human resource and welfare officers
Occupational health practitioners and safety officers
Workers in high-risk industries (construction, manufacturing, mining, transport)

Course Modules

Module 1: Foundations of Occupational Health and Safety

History and evolution of OHS and labour protection systems
Key concepts: hazard, risk, exposure, control measures
International Labour Organization (ILO) standards overview
Employer and worker responsibilities in safety compliance
Case Study: Analysis of a construction site collapse due to weak safety enforcement

Module 2: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Types of workplace hazards (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic)
Risk assessment frameworks and matrices
Workplace hazard mapping techniques
Reporting unsafe conditions and near-miss incidents
Case Study: Factory chemical exposure incident and preventive risk mapping

Module 3: Occupational Accidents and Incident Investigation

Accident reporting procedures and documentation
Root cause analysis (RCA) methods
Human error vs system failure analysis
Corrective and preventive action plans (CAPA)
Case Study: Machinery-related injury in a manufacturing plant

Module 4: Industrial Hygiene and Exposure Control

Airborne contaminants, noise, and vibration hazards
Exposure limits and monitoring systems
Engineering vs administrative controls
Workplace sanitation and ventilation systems
Case Study: Hearing loss prevention in a textile factory

Module 5: PPE and Safety Compliance Systems

Types and standards of Personal Protective Equipment
Proper use, maintenance, and limitations of PPE
Employer obligations for PPE provision
Compliance monitoring and enforcement strategies
Case Study: Non-compliance PPE use in a construction project

Module 6: Psychosocial Risks and Mental Health at Work

Workplace stress, harassment, and burnout
Violence and bullying prevention policies
Mental health awareness and support systems
Role of unions in psychosocial safety
Case Study: Call center burnout and productivity decline

Module 7: Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management

Fire safety, evacuation procedures, and drills
First aid and emergency response systems
Disaster risk reduction planning
Crisis communication and coordination
Case Study: Industrial fire outbreak response in a warehouse facility

Module 8: Trade Unions and Safety Advocacy

Collective bargaining for safety rights
Building safety committees and worker participation
Labour inspections and compliance enforcement
Advocacy for stronger national OSH policies
Case Study: Successful union-led safety reform in a mining company

Training Methodology

This course employs a participatory and hands-on approach to ensure practical learning, including:

Interactive lectures and presentations.
Group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
Hands-on exercises using real-world datasets.
Role-playing and scenario-based simulations.
Analysis of case studies to bridge theory and practice.
Peer-to-peer learning and networking.
Expert-led Q&A sessions.
Continuous feedback and personalized guidance.

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@fineskilltrainingcenter.org or call +254769199797

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to Fineskill Training Center account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.

Skills & Software Covered

Risk awareness safety compliance hazard prevention workplace inspections

Programme Fee

Duration: 5 Days

Method: Online or Physical

Online Price: $1,000

Physical Price: $1,500

Certification: Accredited Certificate

View Available Dates 📄 Download Course Outline (PDF)

Available Sessions

Location

Month

Year

Nov 02 2026

02 Nov — 06 Nov 2026

💻 Online / Virtual session

Online $1,000