Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health (MSc. OSH)

I Welcome you to the Occupational Safety and Health Department at the Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology. We have three programs in this department namely PhD in Occupational Safety and Health (PhD OSH), MSc in Occupational Safety and Health (MSc OSH) and Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (PgD OSH).

The International Labour Organization (ILO) declared the right to a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work. This means that occupational safety and health can no longer be considered an option. Kenya promulgated a new Constitution in August 2010 that includes a chapter on the Bill of Rights, which provides for the rights and fundamental freedom of all citizens. Although the Constitution does not address OSH specifically, it provides for the rights of every person to fair labour practices, reasonable working conditions, and a clean and healthy environment.

In order to satisfy the constitutional requirements and as part of the preparation for a safe work environment IEET has a program that is meant to prepare you. The Safety and Health committee rules of 2004 require employers to appoint competent persons to be responsible for safety and health at the workplace. The same rules require workplaces to be audited by competent persons once in a year. We are proud to have graduates in very senior corporate and government positions responsible for occupational safety and health.

The aim of the MSc OSH programme is to develop reflective occupational safety and health practitioners able to understand, develop, implement and monitor both, traditional safety concepts and contemporary strategies and interventions in the context of the 21st century occupational safety and health environment. The programme is intended to challenge the preconceptions and practice of participants, as well as developing their knowledge, skills, competencies and ability to reflect and learn from their own professional practice.

The master’s degree is designed to enhance the students current understanding and application of occupational safety and health management by enabling students to develop a more holistic approach to influencing worker and organisational performance through the contemporary concepts of worker engagement and wellbeing The duration of the MSc Occupational Safety and Health shall be at least eighteen (18) months for full-time students and twenty-four (24) months for part- time students.

The program is anchored on the philosophy of enhancing access to quality, well-trained professionals in Occupational Safety and Health issues. The program has eleven taught units that includes: Research Methods, Environmental Impact Assessment, Safety Technology and Management, Ergonomics, Workplace Information, Occupational Health and Hygiene, Risk Management, Epidemiological studies, Science of Occupational Safety, Instrumentation and Analytical Technique and Occupational Laws and Regulations. The University facilities including the Hospital, the Farm, Laboratories, the Polyethylene Phthalate Bottle recycling plant and Engineering Workshops serve as good examples of workplaces for practical studies.