Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for NGOs and Social Impact Workspaces

Course Description
Every mission-driven organization needs to protect the well-being of its people—because safe teams are strong teams. This practical course equips participants with the knowledge and tools to create healthy, hazard-free work environments, whether in offices, field sites, or remote settings. Going beyond compliance, it explores how OHS can become a cornerstone of staff morale, productivity, and organizational integrity. From risk assessments and emergency planning to psycho-social well-being and legal frameworks, participants will walk away ready to foster a safety-first culture that values people as much as purposes.

Course Objectives

• To understand the principles, importance, and legal foundations of OHS
• To identify workplace hazards and implement appropriate control measures
• To design risk assessments and safety protocols for different operational contexts
• To promote mental well-being and psycho-social health in work environments
• To build a proactive, organization-wide culture of safety and care

Who Can Attend?

• Human resource and operations managers
• Program managers and field supervisors
• Administrative and logistics personnel
• Team leaders and workplace safety champions
• Staff responsible for workplace wellness and compliance

Course Modules

1.Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety
Why safety is everyone’s business

• Understand OHS concepts, goals, and relevance in social impact work
• Learn the moral, legal, and financial case for prioritizing staff health and safety
• Explore OHS policies and compliance standards applicable to NGOs

2.Identifying Workplace Hazards and Risks
See it before it hurts someone

• Differentiate between hazards (biological, physical, chemical, psychosocial, ergonomic)
• Learn how to identify, report, and document workplace risks
• Explore field-specific hazards in humanitarian or community-based work

3.Conducting Risk Assessments and Control Planning
Plan it before it escalates

• Use risk matrices to assess severity and likelihood
• Apply the hierarchy of controls: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administer, PPE
• Draft context-specific risk mitigation plans
  

4.Workplace Safety Protocols and Emergency Preparedness
Be ready when it counts

• Develop safety procedures for fires, injuries, medical emergencies, and field incidents
• Create workplace evacuation plans and communication chains
• Practice safety drills and emergency simulations

5.Promoting Mental Health and Psycho-social Safety
Protect the person behind the position

• Recognize stress, burnout, and trauma in high-pressure roles
• Develop policies for mental well-being, workload balance, and psychological safety
• Encourage peer support and debriefing practices

6.Building a Safety-Conscious Organizational Culture
From posters to practice

• Embed safety into on-boarding, supervision, and team planning
• Empower safety focal persons and committees
• Use safety audits, learning reviews, and staff feedback loops
  

7.Legal Compliance and Ethical Responsibilities
Know your duty of care

• Review labour laws, OHS regulations, and duty-of-care standards
• Understand accountability in case of non-compliance or injury
• Develop documentation and reporting systems for legal protection

Expected Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will have increased their capacity to

• Identify and assess occupational health and safety risks in their workplace
• Develop and implement safety protocols and emergency response plans
• Promote staff well-being and prevent work-related stress or harm
• Comply with relevant legal frameworks and ethical responsibilities
• Promote a culture of safety, responsibility, and care across their organisation.

How you will learn

Duration

4 Weeks

Format

Self-directed

Effort

3 hrs/per week

Certificate

Digital

AIS’s self-guided, flexible online trainings provide hands-on learning through engaging videos, assignments, and readings. Participants can connect and engage with peers around the world, all while an expert facilitator is available to answer your questions. The platform is user-friendly and available for a set duration, allowing learners to work at their own pace.

All courses can be converted to  a 3-5 days intensive  in-person  workshop.