Competencies in Safety and Health That Meet the African Complexity and How to Measure Them

Abstract

This chapter explores the main competencies for both occupational safety and health (OSH) practitioners and OSH professionals that are relevant to the unique African context. Competency is also similarly defined by the Health and Safety Executive, UK, as the combination of training, skills, experience, and knowledge that a person has and their ability to apply them to perform a task. Soft skills such as communication skills are perceived as important basic skills in safety and health management. Good communication skills are necessary for effective appraisal of hazards and OSH requirements to workers. OSH practitioners and professionals should have both the theoretical and practical expertise in the conduct of safety and health audits in the workplace. Measuring performance in OSH through the use of positive performance indicators and negative performance indicators is an important area in OSH practice.