Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Occupational Safety and Health

Course Summary

This programme gives students the knowledge and skills to protect workers from injuries and fatalities, prevent illness caused by work, promote health and wellbeing, and advise employers on health and safety law. Students also learn how to prepare, implement and monitor safety management systems in the workplace. 

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW 

This honours degree engages students in a dynamic and innovative way, Year 1 through to Year 4. Students learn how to effectively work with people by working within groups and teams to solve real workplace safety and health issues. The degree gives a blend of theoretical and practical learning through lectures, laboratory based monitoring, site visits, case studies, enquiry based learning and work placement.

The degree provides students with the knowledge and skills to put in place environmental, health and safety management systems in the workplace. This combined with the fact that our graduates will also be qualified to act as trainers, makes them highly sought after by employers.

This is the longest running Occupational Safety and Health honours degree programme in the country, and our graduates are employed across all sectors. This includes everything from manufacturing to construction and retail to public bodies. Our graduates are qualified to act as a health and safety or environmental, health and safety manager in any workplace.

YEAR 1

Students study the biological and chemical sciences which underpin occupational safety and health, and develop a range of communication and IT skills.

YEAR 2

Students study important safety and environmental topics, including safety law, manual handling instruction training, construction technology, occupational safety and health, biological health hazards and environmental water quality.

YEAR 3

In Year 3, there is a focus on applying the knowledge and skills students have developed on the programme during the previous two years. Modules include Construction Safety and Contractor Management, Management of Hazardous Materials, Occupational Hygiene, Occupational Health and Health Promotion, Safety and Health Legislation, and Environmental Topics.

YEAR 4

Students complete a five-month paid work placement in safety and health. Year 4 modules include Project Management, Ergonomics, Behavioural Based Safety Programmes, Management of Workplace Health and Wellbeing, Environmental Health and Safety Management System Project. Students work on a collaborative project with an industry partner to develop an environmental, health and safety management system and training programme. This practical experience leaves our graduates confident to take up a health and safety position in any work place.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION 

This degree is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the only chartered body for health and safety practitioners and the world’s largest health and safety professional membership organisation. This qualifies students to take up a career as a Health and Safety Advisor or Manager in any type of industry, anywhere in the world.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:

• Download Entry requirements for just Level 8 programmes
• Download Entry requirements for all programmes

Career Opportunities

Graduates work as safety advisors, health and safety officers, safety training consultants, site safety officers and safety coordinators in a wide range of sectors. These sectors include pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electronics, the food and beverage sector, mining, construction, commercial, wholesale, transport, retail and in the health sector.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 was brought in to make provision for the safety, health and welfare of persons at work. This Act clarifies and enhances the responsibilities of employer‘s, the self-employed, employees and various other parties in relation to safety and health at work. This has resulted in a huge amount of employment opportunities for our graduates every year.

The typical starting salary for graduates is €32k+  and our Level 8 degree has a 100% employment rate over the past number of years.

This degree is also accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the world’s largest health and safety professional membership organisation. This allows our graduates to take up employment anywhere in the world. Our graduates are working across Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA.

Students are also qualified manual handling trainers and visual display unit assessors when they graduate.

Further Study

Graduates may progress to the two-year online Masters in Environmental Health and Safety Management in ATU Sligo.

Graduates may progress to a range of other Masters and PhD options in ATU Sligo or at other third level institutions.

Postgraduate options at ATU Sligo

Testimonials

“Over the past number of years, Glanbia has been delighted to host work placement students from the Occupational Safety and Health degree in ATU Sligo. The quality of students has been excellent, with students showing a high level of technical knowledge, enthusiasm and strong interest in health & safety.

Two of our core values here at Glanbia are ‘Find a Better Way’ and ‘Performance Matters’. The placement students have demonstrated these values through their ability to question our methods and systems, and their willingness to learn new skills”.

Glanbia

Did you know?

We also over this degree at Level 7 -  AU856 BSc in Occupational Safety and Health

A five-month paid work placement takes place at the end of Year 3. Students complete work placements in a variety of settings including within pharmaceutical companies, local authorities, manufacturing, construction, state agencies and retail.

Students are qualified manual handling trainers and visual display unit assessors when they graduate.

This degree is essentially applied science rather than the science students may know from secondary school. Occupational safety and health in the workplace covers areas such as chemical safety, occupational health, exposure to noise, dust and gases.

In Year 4, students work on a collaborative project with an industry partner to develop an environmental, health and safety management system and training programme.

The degree gives a blend of theoretical and practical learning through lectures, laboratory based monitoring, site visits, case studies, enquiry based learning and work placement.

This is the longest running Occupational Safety and Health honours degree programme in the country.

The typical starting salary for graduates is €32k+  and our Level 8 degree has a 100% employment rate over the past number of years.

This degree is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the only chartered body for health and safety practitioners and the world’s largest health and safety professional membership organisation.

Alumni

"One of the main things I noticed when studying Occupational Safety and Health in ATU Sligo, is that each module begins at a basic level.Through a great mix of theory lectures and practical labs, my knowledge grew gradually over the semesters to an advanced level.

Group work is a huge focus in the degree, especially Enquiry Based Learning (EBL). This has greatly boosted my confidence in presenting in front of crowds, communicating professionally and working efficiently as part of a team. When I chose to study this degree, I could never have imagined the huge range of opportunities that it would open for me."

Michael Murray, BSc (Hons) in Occupational Safety and Health graduate

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8