OHTA Courses

Why Choose a OHTA Qualification?

  • Expert: since 1953 OHTA has been the only organization dedicated to occupational hygiene, and to be awarded a Royal Charter – in recognition of its unique and pre-eminent role as the leading authority in occupational disease prevention. This also means that OHTA is the only occupational hygiene organization to offer the opportunity to achieve ‘Chartered Occupational Hygienist’ status, via its professional development route.

  • Industry standard: the OHTA Faculty of Occupational Hygiene sets, develops and maintains the professional standards of occupational hygienists. It is also an internationally recognized, and the only UK-based examining board for qualifications in occupational hygiene.

  • Global recognition: OHTA qualifications are recognized by HSE, UKAS and IOHA, and by national and international institutions, organizations and employers.

  • Financial assistance: OHTA offers a ‘Bursaries for Modules’ (BfM) scheme, which aims to encourage those already working in the field of occupational health and safety towards a potential career in occupational hygiene.

  • Support services: the Qualifications Team at OHTA Head Office is available to provide advice, and to resolve queries.

    • The Qualifications Scheme

  • The international qualifications scheme allows you to study occupational hygiene at the level that suits you, with a modular design, you can take the courses you need when you want

  • The international qualifications scheme allows you to study occupational hygiene at the level that suits you, with a modular design, you can take the courses you need when you want

  • This gives you the flexibility to build on your existing qualifications and to fit in more easily with your job demands. You can start from the Foundation level, and progress through Intermediate level to Advanced level.

  • DipOH - Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene

    • Please note that international qualifications cover the core science and practice of occupational hygiene; they do not cover the details of local legislation or local custom and practice. Hence national associations may impose additional requirements before recognizing hygienists with international qualifications to practice in their country.

    OHTA W series courses

    Noise – Measurement and Its Effects
    W201 - Basic Principles in Occupational Hygiene

    The course aims to: Provide an introductory course outlining the broad principles in occupational hygiene as the basis for anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of hazards that can be encountered in the workplace.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On completing this course successfully, the student will have a basic understanding of:
    • - The value of occupational hygiene and the role of the occupational hygienist;
    • - The range of hazards (physical and chemical) in the workplace;
    • - Hazard recognition techniques;
    • - Sources and potential routes of exposure;
    • Hazard evaluation, exposure assessment and measurement processes;
    • Methods of controlling exposure;
    • The management of occupational hygiene programs.

    The course is normally run as a taught course over 4.5 days (minimum of 36 hours, including practical/demonstration sessions, overnight questions and guided reading).

    There will be a 20 short answer question ‘open book’ examination with an allowed time of 60 minutes.

    Who Should Attend?

    • Health and safety professionals,
    • Occupational Health Specialists [including physicians and nurses]
    • People wanting to enter the field of occupational hygiene
    • Specialists in subjects such as acoustics, ergonomics, human factors, occupational psychology, work organization, biosafety, acoustics, engineering, or analytical chemistry who want a broader appreciation of how their role interfaces with other professions over health issues in the workplace.
    W501 Measurement of Hazardous Substances

    The course aims to provide the student with a sound understanding of the techniques for assessing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace and with an understanding of how exposure information can be used to assess risk.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On completing this course successfully the student will be able to:
    • Describe the general approach to health risk assessment, including the role of atmospheric monitoring;
    • Select appropriate equipment to measure specific airborne contaminants and devise a suitable sampling strategy;
    • Present the results in a form useful for health risk assessment purposes to enable management to comply with relevant legislation.

    Course normally run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including lectures, tutorials, practical/demonstration sessions, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].

    There will be a 40 short answer question “open book” examination with an allowed time of 120 minutes.

    W502 Thermal Environment

    This course aims to provide the student with a sound understanding of the effects of the thermal environment on people, and the means of assessing and controlling the risks associated with thermal stress.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On completing this course successfully the student will be able to:
    • Identify sources of thermal stress within the working environment.
    • Understand the nature of thermal strain on the body.
    • Make an assessment of the thermal environment through appropriate measurement and other means.
    • Evaluate the likely risk from exposure to thermal stress.
    • Suggest appropriate control approaches for the thermal environment.

        • Course format normally run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including practical/demonstration sessions, lectures, tutorials, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].

        There will be a 40 short answer question ‘open book’ examination with an allowed time of 120minutes.

    W503 Noise - Measurement and its Effects

    This course aims to provide the student with an appreciation of the nature of noise hazards in the workplace and the effects of noise on people. It also details the approach in carrying out noise assessments in the workplace and in the general environment, and to determine the significance of measurement data in relation to the various standards for compliance.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On completing this course successfully the student will be able to:
    • - Describe the consequences to health and well-being of excessive exposure to noise;
    • - Understand the measurement (including dosimetry) of noise in relation to current standards;
    • - Conduct surveys in the workplace to assess risks from noise;
    • - Advise on the need and means of control including PPE;
    • - Appreciate and advise on environmental noise assessment and concern;
    • - Understand current standards and good practice in these fields.
        • Course run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including practical/demonstration sessions, lectures, tutorials, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].
        There will be a 40 short answer question “open book” examination with an allowed time of 120 minutes.
    W504 Asbestos and Other Fibres

    This course aims to enhance the student’s knowledge of occupational hygiene practice in relation to fibrous dusts. The module concentrates on asbestos, but other fibers, eg. Machine made mineral fibers, aramids, carbon etc., which are increasingly finding uses in industry are also covered. Successful completion of this module will benefit those working in asbestos consultancy as well as in mainstream occupational hygiene, giving an understanding of the health risks associated with asbestos and other fibers as well as the means of evaluation and control.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
    • Describe the composition, nature and properties of asbestos, machine made mineral and other fibers and their historical uses;
    • Describe the health effects of asbestos and other fibrous materials and apply appropriate exposure limits;
    • Describe the uses of asbestos in buildings and the public health risk that these may pose;
    • Understand the principles of and requirements for asbestos surveys including taking samples and identifying bulk asbestos types by microscopic techniques including relevant safety requirements;
    • Understand all the principles of clearance testing, the requirements for measurement and appropriate techniques for post remediation evaluation;
    • Conduct air sampling to determine airborne concentrations of asbestos or other fibers in accordance with defined procedures including microscopic counting techniques;
    • Have the ability to advise on all the various techniques for the management of asbestos in buildings in accordance with good practice.
        • Course run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including lectures, tutorials, practical/demonstration sessions, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].
        There will be a 40 short answer question “open book” examination with an allowed time of 120 minutes.
    W505 Control of Hazardous Substances

    This course aims to describe the ways in which exposure to hazardous substances arises in the workplace, and to introduce the methodologies and technologies available to control exposures and thereby reduce risks to health.

    Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
    • Describe how airborne contaminants are generated by industrial processes, how this impacts on the control strategy, and how control solutions can thereby be optimized;
    • Recognize the range of approaches to risk reduction embodied in the hierarchy of control and select appropriate strategies for implementation;
    • Discuss the importance of design considerations in terms of the workplace, process, and plant, as a means of reducing occupational exposures;
    • Describe the principal elements of a local exhaust ventilation system, give examples of typical installations and know how to carry out the necessary measurements to assess whether a local exhaust ventilation system is effective and operating to the design specification;
    • Recognize the limitations of local exhaust hoods and enclosures and the means to optimize their effectiveness;
    • Describe how personal protective equipment programs may be used in an effective manner;
    • Recognize the impact that control measures may have on other workplace hazards and understand the need to take a holistic approach to the design of control solutions.
    Course normally run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including practical/demonstration sessions, lectures, tutorials, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].
    There will be a 40 short answer question “open book” examination with an allowed time of 120 minutes
    W506 Ergonomics Essentials Intermediate

    This course aims to provide a broad based introduction to ergonomic principles and their application in the design of work, equipment and the workplace. Consideration is given to musculo-skeletal disorders, manual handling, and ergonomic aspects of the environment as well as to the social and legal aspects.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On completing this course successfully the student will be able to:
    • apply ergonomic principles to the creation of safer, healthier and more efficient and effective activities in the workplace;
    • Conduct ergonomic risk assessments;
    • Develop appropriate control measures for ergonomic risk factors;
    • Describe work-related causes of musculo-skeletal disorders; • design a workplace according to good ergonomic principles;
    • Assess ergonomic aspects of the working environment and work organization.
    Course normally run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including lectures, tutorials, practical/demonstration sessions, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].
    There will be a 40 short answer question “open book” examination with an allowed time of 120 minutes
    W507 Health Effects of Hazardous Substances

    This course aims to provide an introduction to the principles of toxicology, physiology and epidemiology. The course will cover the main types of harmful effects to target organs from exposure to chemical hazards at work, and the hazards associated with common hazardous substances.

    Learning Outcomes:
    On completing this course successfully the student will be able to:
    • Provide definitions of commonly used toxicological terms;
    • Describe the main routes by which hazardous substances can enter the body, and the factors which influence their absorption, distribution, storage and elimination;
    • - Describe the main sources of information on hazardous substances and processes;
    • Describe the main features of the principal target organs affected by hazardous substances at work, and the factors which influence the degree of harm;
    • Describe the main routes of exposure and toxic and health effects for hazardous substances commonly encountered in the workplace;
    • Carry out basic interpretation of the results from epidemiological studies.
        • Course run as a 5 day taught course [minimum 45 hours including lectures, tutorials, practical/demonstration sessions, guided reading, overnight questions and examination].
        There will be a 40 short answer question “open book” examination with an allowed time of 120 minutes
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