Qualification Structure

The Qualifi Level 7 International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management is an Ofqual-regulated qualification accredited on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The qualification has a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 1200 hours and 450 Guided Learning Hours (GLH), with 120 credits.

Assessment for the Qualifi Level 7 International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management is assignment-based. Learner work is assessed in accordance with Qualifi assessment and quality assurance requirements to ensure that learners demonstrate the required knowledge, understanding and application of occupational health and safety management principles.

To achieve the qualification, learners must successfully complete all eight mandatory units.

Core Study Units

1. Management-Driven, Risk-Based Safety Management Systems

• Evaluate occupational health and safety management systems, including ISO 45001:2018, organisational context, standards, legal compliance and strategic alignment.
• Evaluate strategic risks using quantitative risk models, accident-causation theories, risk analysis and risk-control methods.
• Develop effective risk communication strategies for different stakeholders and distinguish risk communication from crisis communication.

2. Globalisation, Sustainability and Safety Culture Performance

• Evaluate the effects of globalisation on organisational safety culture, safety climate and worker competence.
• Evaluate the benefits, challenges and strategic value of integrating occupational health and safety with sustainability.
• Measure safety performance and develop approaches for calculating safety return on investment (ROI) and analysing safety-culture data.
• Evaluate psychological health, workplace injury management, rehabilitation, workplace violence and psychosocial risks.
• Lead a whole-organisation approach to occupational health and safety and develop strategies for managing interconnected health and safety risks.

3. Digitalisation and Incident Investigation

• Evaluate the effects of digitalisation, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence on strategic and operational occupational health and safety.
• Implement risk assessment and control measures for biological hazards and workplace infection.
• Implement ecological risk assessment and control measures associated with industrial activities.
• Develop engineering solutions for ergonomic hazards and evaluate their costs and benefits.
• Analyse strategic and rapid risk assessment requirements for biological outbreaks and develop appropriate control measures.
• Analyse potential occupational health and safety management system failures associated with chemical hazards and develop improvement plans.
• Apply accident-causation and root-cause analysis methods to physical hazards and develop strategies to prevent recurrence.

4. Development as a Strategic Manager

• Identify and critically evaluate the personal and strategic skills required to achieve organisational and leadership objectives.
• Manage personal leadership development and create a personal development plan for operating effectively in complex environments.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of leadership development plans and update them in response to organisational requirements.
• Evaluate and promote an employee-welfare environment that supports organisational values and strategic objectives.

5. Safety Programs and Concepts

• Analyse storage, rigging, trenching, excavation and fall-protection requirements, including relevant safety calculations.
• Evaluate incident-performance indicators, applied physics, statistical measures and unit conversions used in occupational health and safety management.
• Implement control systems for electrical, hydraulic, thermal, kinetic, mechanical and magnetic hazardous energy.
• Analyse safety principles for machinery, powered industrial vehicles, scaffolding, fleet operations, pressure vessels and compressed gases.

6. Ergonomics

• Apply ergonomic principles to workplace design, lifting assessment and the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.
• Evaluate ergonomic assessment methods, anthropometric principles and workplace ergonomic controls.
• Analyse biomechanical stress factors, including muscle fatigue, repetitive movement, forceful exertion and biomechanical loading.
• Evaluate human factors, human-computer interaction, physiological monitoring and related workplace assessment principles.

7. Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health

• Analyse flow-rate calculations, occupational noise hazards and radiation-exposure controls.
• Evaluate chemical hazard classification systems and apply chemistry principles to occupational chemical risk management.
• Analyse occupational exposure pathways, exposure limits and the effects of hazardous-substance exposure on worker health.
• Evaluate biological hazard controls, ionising radiation, occupational toxicology and hazardous-waste management.

8. Fire Safety

• Analyse fire science, electrical fire hazards and fire assessment methods in occupational environments.
• Analyse hot-work hazards, flammable and combustible substances, combustible dust and ignition risks.
• Evaluate fire detection, suppression, firefighting, smoke-control and ventilation systems.
• Evaluate fire prevention, segregation, storage, housekeeping, building safety, legal requirements and fire-code compliance.

Who Is This Qualification For?

The Qualifi Level 7 International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management is designed for aspiring and practising occupational health and safety professionals, managers, and experienced workplace specialists seeking advanced knowledge in strategic OHS management. The qualification is particularly relevant to those responsible for developing, implementing, evaluating, or improving health and safety procedures within organisations.

This qualification is suitable for:

• Occupational Health and Safety Professionals seeking advanced knowledge of risk management, safety systems, incident investigation, occupational health, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and fire safety.
• Health and Safety Managers and Supervisors responsible for managing workplace risks, safety programmes, compliance processes, and organisational safety performance.
• HSE Professionals looking to strengthen strategic capabilities in occupational health, safety management systems, sustainability, safety culture, and risk control.
• Managers with Health and Safety Responsibilities who need to evaluate risks, lead safety improvements, and integrate OHS considerations into organisational decision-making.
• Experienced Workplace Professionals progressing into strategic or senior-level occupational health and safety responsibilities.
• Professionals Seeking UK-Regulated Level 7 Study who want an advanced vocational qualification aligned with the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
• Learners Planning Further Study who require a recognised Level 7 qualification that can provide a foundation for progression to further postgraduate-level study, subject to the requirements of the receiving institution.

The qualification is also suitable for part-time learners already working in the sector and for full-time learners who can combine study with appropriate workplace exposure or employment.

Career Opportunities

The Qualifi Level 7 International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management provides learners with advanced knowledge of strategic occupational health and safety management. The qualification develops expertise in risk-based safety management systems, safety culture, sustainability, incident investigation, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, occupational health, fire safety, and strategic leadership. It is suitable for learners in the UK and internationally seeking to develop advanced OHS management knowledge and progress towards senior-level occupational health and safety responsibilities or further academic and professional pathways.

Future Progression

The Qualifi Level 7 International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management provides learners with advanced knowledge for further academic development and professional progression in occupational health and safety. The qualification develops expertise in risk-based safety management systems, safety culture, sustainability, incident investigation, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, occupational health, fire safety, and strategic management.

Academically, learners may progress to relevant postgraduate or higher-level qualifications in occupational health and safety, health and safety management, environmental management, risk management, or related disciplines, subject to the entry requirements of the receiving institution. The qualification can also support further academic study in areas related to workplace safety, organisational risk, occupational health, and management.

Professionally, this diploma can support progression towards roles such as Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Health and Safety Manager, HSE Manager, HSE Advisor, Occupational Health and Safety Consultant, Safety Management Systems Manager, Risk Manager, Safety Compliance Manager, Incident Investigation Specialist, Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Ergonomics Specialist, and Fire Safety Manager, depending on the learner’s experience, professional competence, and employer requirements. The knowledge developed through the qualification provides a foundation for evaluating workplace risks, developing safety management systems, investigating incidents, strengthening safety culture, and applying strategic occupational health and safety principles in organisational environments.