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Who should take these courses?

The online Health and Safety Management Certificate is geared toward:

  • employees who have been given the responsibility of health and safety on a part-time or full-time basis, but have no formal education in health and safety.
  • someone who has moved into health and safety management.

Courses can be taken individually if someone needs an introduction or wants to develop a competency in a specific health and safety topic. To request a brochure please email Gregg Cubel.

Description of the Certificate

To earn the online Health and Safety Management Certificate, the student will need to complete four core courses and six electives for a total of approximately 100 hours of online course time. Each course is approximately equal to 10 hours of classroom instruction time.

The core courses are as follows:

The following courses are electives:


Note: Electives will be developed based on demand for specific topics.

Online Learning Platform
We utilize eLearning, also known as Blackboard Learning System Vista 4, an interactive online learning management system that The University of Alabama uses to deliver academic courses, as well as professional training. Designed with the end user in mind, eLearning not only provides a secure website to house content, but offers a wide array of interactive tools. Content can be presented in numerous formats including text, video, slide show presentations, and links to websites and articles, to name only a few. Synchronous and asynchronous communications are possible via live chat, email and discussion board.

Computer and Internet Requirements
DSL, high-speed internet preferred.


To Register online for Individual Health and Safety Management Online Courses

To register online for the “Health and Safety Management” Online CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:
HSM” Certificate Program


HSM 101: Introduction to OSHA

Who is OSHA? Learn how and why the Occupational Safety and Health Act was created and how it has evolved through the years. Find out its major organizational divisions and functions so you will know who to contact for guidance and notifications.

Course Topics:

  • What are OSHA’s guiding principles
  • How OSHA develops and carries out the inspection process
  • The rights of the employer and employee during the inspection regarding OSHA citations
  • OSHA and OSHA-sponsored training and compliance assistance programs

Benefits:

  • Understand OSHA’s principle practices
  • Understand the OSHA inspection process
  • Understand your rights as an employer and employee during OSHA inspections

Certificate Program

  • Core course for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

HSM 102: Introduction to Workplace Safety

This course provides the basic tools a safety manager needs to understand the health and safety regulations for his/her company.

Course Topics:

  • What is a safety hazard?
  • How can the hazard(s) be corrected?
  • How to implement preventative measures
  • An overview of the general industry standards
  • Developing a written health and safety/training program

Benefits:

  • Understand the general industry safety and health standards
  • Understand how to address any standard violations
  • Become more knowledgeable on how to address violations, once discovered
  • Be able to implement preventative measures to decrease safety risks

Certificate Program:

  • Core course for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

HSM 103: Introduction to Industrial Hygiene

What do you know about industrial hygiene? If you have never been through a health and safety curriculum, this topic may be a mystery to you. This course unravels the history of the profession and why industrial hygienists and its practitioners should be an integral part of your health and safety program.

Course Topics:

  • The history of the development of the profession
  • The functions of the modern day industrial hygienist and his/her contributions to the occupational safety and health team
  • Fundamental scientific principles associated with critical areas of knowledge

Benefits:

  • Be able to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control basic industrial hygiene hazards

Certificate Program

  • Core course for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

HSM 104: Introduction to Workers’ Compensation

As a safety manager what do you need to know about workers’ compensation? This course outlines those principles and gives you an understanding of the financial implications of workers’ compensation claims and reviews the steps involved in those claims.

Course Topics:

  • What is workers’ compensation and how did it evolve in the U.S.?
  • The types of workers’ compensation claims, their costs, benefits, exceptions, disputes, litigation, and settlements
  • OSHA recordkeeping, accident investigation, and return-to-work programs

Benefits:

  • Acquire working knowledge of the workers’ compensation claim process
  • Understand how avoiding worker compensation claims saves your company money

Certificate Program

  • Core course for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 202: Introduction to Mine Safety

You may be new to the mining industry or your company has mining operations. This course is designed to provide an overview of mines and mining health and safety regulations.

Course Topics:

  • The major types of mining operations
  • The major differences between the Mine Safety and Health Act and the OSH Act
  • The most common hazards of mine safety
  • Mine Safety and Health regulations overview
  • Mine Safety and Health regulations overview

Benefits:

  • Gain a basic knowledge of mining and related activities
  • Understand the health and safety issues associated with mining

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

HSM 301: Managing Hazard Communication Programs

Do you know how to meet OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard requirements? Are you prepared for the GHS update? This course outlines a step-by-step approach to developing an effective written and training program for persons that may be exposed to hazardous substances through the course of their work. It will also help prepare to keep you up to date with the changes due to the GHS.

Course Topics:

  • Overview of the hazard communication standard
  • Developing an effective communication and training program
  • Managing your hazard communication program
  • Updates due to the GHS standard

Benefits:

  • Know how to develop an effective hazard communication program for your organization. Be up-to-date on the changes due to the GHS.

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 310: Managing Ergonomic Programs

Ergonomics affect all aspects of how we work, from sitting at a computer to operating machinery. The goal of this course is to start you on a path to learn and apply ergonomics to improve your workplace and reduce potential injuries.

Course Topics:

  • The regulatory issues regarding ergonomics
  • How to identify ergonomic problems
  • Techniques for controlling ergonomic problems
  • Practical ergonomic solutions in the workplace

Benefits:

  • Acquire a working knowledge of ergonomic issues in the workplace
  • Learn how to improve worker productivity without compromising safety

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 311: Managing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Programs

Many safety hazards can be minimized through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This course will help you understand the regulatory requirements for the use of PPE, how to select PPE, and how to establish a plan to reduce exposure to hazards found in your workplace.

Course Topics:

  • The regulatory requirements requiring the use of PPE
  • Identifying and documenting hazards
  • How to determine the correct type of PPE needed for the environment
  • The proper use of PPE

Benefits:

  • Reduce exposures to hazards in your workplace

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 312: Managing Fleet Safety Programs

Did you know that thousands of people are killed and hundreds of thousands are injured in vehicle-related crashes each year? Did you know that companies have been forced to close their doors a a result of high dollar losses resulting from vehicle crashes? During this course you will learn how to develop and manage a fleet safety program for your organization so you can reduce these types of losses

Course Topics:

  • The cost of not managing fleet safety within your organization
  • How to control fleet losses
  • Worksite hazard analysis
  • Hazard prevention
  • Safety education and training

Benefits:

  • Reduce vehicle accidents

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 701: Managing Bloodborne Pathogen Programs

Bloodborne pathogen programs should be a component of all organizational safety and health plans whether you have an office, manufacturing or construction setting.

Course Topics:

  • Major types of bloodborne pathogens
  • Controlling exposure
  • Preventive measures such as housekeeping
  • Medical treatment
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Keys to a successful exposure control plan

Benefits:

  • Reduce bloodborne pathogen exposures in the workplace
  • Learn how to contain and clean-up after exposures if they occur

Certificate Program:

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 702: Managing Heat Stress Programs

Failure to address heat stress issues within your company can result in both human health and financial woes. The best way to prevent this is by understanding heat stress and know how to develop a program that is manageable and accepted by the employees and management.

Course Topics:

  • Learn to recognize heat stress and how to identify and calculate it in the workplace
  • What factors contribute to heat stress and how to reduce them
  • How to develop a cost-effective heat stress program

Benefits:

  • Understand heat stress and learn how to develop a manageable heat stress program

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 901: Managing Wellness Programs

Have you considered developing a workplace wellness program for your organization, but don’t know where to start? This course will help you understand the factors you need to consider before initiating a wellness program and will provide guidelines for developing a successful program.

Course Topics:

  • The benefits of wellness programs
  • How to develop a wellness program
  • The key elements needed for a successful wellness program

Benefits:

  • Ultimately, a healthier workforce

Certificate Program

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

HSM 902: Managing Health Promotion Programs

With ever increasing health care costs, more and more companies are promoting wellness programs for their employees. This course addresses the issues related to health promotions and how to plan and implement a program that will work within your organizational needs.

Course Topics:

  • Health care cost issues related to health promotion
  • Assessment analysis of the workforce
  • Health promotion planning, implementation, and evaluation

Benefits:

  • Understand how to establish and implement a health promotion that meets your company’s needs

Pre-requisite: HSM 901 Managing Wellness Programs

Certificate Program:

  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

QEW 141: Understanding Basic Electricity for Electrical Safety

This one-day course prepares students to understand basic electrical theorems as they apply to codes and standards. You will learn the theoretical intent of the electrical code-making body and understand the purpose of how electrical codes and standards are applied in real world situations.

Course Topics:

  • Four secrets of electricity
  • Three-phase systems
  • Single-phase systems
  • Basic understanding of circuitry, motors, and transformers
  • Power laws
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Wiring methods
  • How theory is applied to codes and standards

Certificate Program

  • Core Course for the “Qualified Electrical Worker” Certificate
  • Elective for the Health & Safety Management Certificate
  • Elective for the General Industry Safety & Health Certificate
  • Elective for the Construction Safety & Health Certificate

HSM 550 Safety Law

Who Should Enroll?

  • Individuals who wish to further their safety law education within health and safety management.
  • Individuals who oversee health and safety operations on a part-time or full-time basis, but have little or no formal education in health and safety management.

Course Objectives

  • Thorough review of legal requirements of the Occupational safety and Health Act (29 CFR 1920)
  • Understand employer and employee rights and responsibilities under the OSHA Act.
  • Understand the terminology used by Safety Practitioners in the field.
  • Gain insight to developing a Safety Program in a work setting.
  • Review OSHA legislation and applicable case law.
  • Analyze and develop Variance Petitions, and more.

EMP 101: Environmental Law

An understanding of basic environmental law is an essential foundation of environmental management.  You cannot understand and address environmental compliance issues and policies without understanding legal systems, administrative law, and environmental law. The United States has one of the most complex legal systems in the world, where an Environmental Manager often must navigate a complex matrix of federal, state, and municipal government environmental requirements.  Federal and state administrative law governs how federal and state agencies create environmental regulations, issue permits, and enforce those requirements.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, you will:

  • Understand the American legal system with three levels of government (federal, state, local) and the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial)
  • Understand the purposes and limitations of common law remedies for addressing environmental problems and the need for statutory and regulatory environmental law
  • Understand basic federal and state administrative law and the powerful role played by federal and state administrative agencies, sometimes referred to as the “fourth branch of government”, and understand the limitations on agency rulemaking and enforcement powers.
  • Understand a variety of statutes and regulatory programs that regulate impacts to water, air, land, species, and ecosystems.
  • Understand basic international environmental law

Benefits:

Companies sometimes find themselves out of compliance because they don’t understand environmental requirements or even how to find them.  As new environmental laws are proposed, companies are often unaware and miss strategically important opportunities to shape those rulemakings through administrative law processes. With a knowledge of basic environmental law, environmental compliance employees are better able to understand and interact with the organization’s attorneys on complex environmental matters; however, environmental compliance employees cannot replace the services provided by qualified legal counsel.

Certificate Program:

  • EMP 101 is an Elective course for the Health & Safety Management Certificate

HSM QEW 542: OSHA Electrical Requirements > 600V

This course presents students with detailed information on how to recognize and handle electrical hazards when working with above 600 volts of electricity. Case studies with proven applications to electrical hazards are explained.


HSM QEW OSHA Electrical Requirements < 600V

This course presents students with detailed information on how to recognize and handle electrical hazards when working with below 600 volts of electricity.

After completing this course, students should be able to:

  • Understand the danger that you face as an electrical worker.
  • Recognize OSHA regulations and other standards relating to working around exposed parts.
  • Recognize OSHA regulations and other standards relating to guarding and workspace.

HAZMAT: HazMat Prep & Response

The principal objective of HAZMAT Prep and Response is to protect human health and the environment from dangers related to releases of hazardous materials due to mishandling, improper storage, poor identification, or unforeseen circumstances. This class serves as an 8-hour refresher for the HAZWOPER and covers the first responder awareness level and first responder operations level for preparing and responding to a HazMat incident. Topics will include a basic introduction to regulations regarding HazMat; common terms associated with HazMat, how to identify HazMat using placards, labels, and other documentation; how to use a site safety plan; and how to use an emergency response guidebook to respond to an accident.


Cancellation Policy Effected June 1, 2023

A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session. Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone or combine class sections, to limit registration or to change instructors. To cancel your registration, contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu. A copy of the OTIDE Cancellation Policy can be found online.