Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness

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Courses - September 2025

Level 1

Course details

Organizational Effectiveness
BUS8560

Description: Organizational effectiveness examines the behaviour of individuals and teams and spans topics including the design of management systems and structures to enable business strategy through the development of key performance indicators, targets and benchmarks. Theories relating to conflict and motivation in the workplace will guide students in their identification and application of models that address issues and challenges relating to both. In addition, students will address organizational culture, productivity, employee engagement and leadership in the context of the human resources function. Students will explore the dynamics of the relationship between organizational and change management strategies. Students will describe the role the HR professional plays in the planning and managing of organizational change to ensure organizational effectiveness.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.

Hours: 1
Credits: 0
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Introduction to Project Management
MGMT8300

Description: This course provides the practical knowledge to prepare for starting and completing a project successfully. It will cover the components and tasks related to complex projects that often involve multiple functional teams and departments. You will explore how the knowledge areas of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) are applied during each phase of a project's life cycle as well as the processes related to successful project management. An overview of status reporting and the use of MS Project will be covered. This knowledge will help establish priorities and effectively manage your projects. It will be of particular interest to those students who have a long-term goal of attaining the Project Management Professional (PMP)® designation certified by the Project Management Institute.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Consulting Proposal
OHS8045

Description: This course will enable students to consolidate learning related to research, critical appraisal, presentation and business communication skills into a proposal that focuses on delivering consultation services to address a current issue or trend in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness. Students will determine the scope and goals of the consultation, the client, and their project partners.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Ergonomics
OHS8090

Description:

Ergonomics assesses the tasks, the equipment used, and the environment in which work is being completed, and is a critical component of health and wellness for employees of an organization. Building on knowledge developed in Health, Wellness & Safe Workplace and Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation, students will learn to identify and assess ergonomic risk factors, and develop an ergonomics program to prevent occupational illness and injury by changing the design of work and workplaces to fit the worker and in accordance with regulatory requirements. This course will include the basics of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics in order to develop skills to evaluate the work environment for employees, assess human capabilities, limitations and the design of workplaces to ensure a safe, efficient and productive workspace.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Workplace Health Promotion (Wellness)
OHS8130

Description:

Health promotion programs are a key method for promoting a strong safety and wellness culture within organizations. In this course, students will investigate guiding principles, skills, and strategies for planning, implementing and evaluating workplace wellness programs that meet the needs of workers and organizations. Students will examine a variety of theories, models and processes related to wellness and health promotion interventions, with a focus on workplace health promotion. Utilizing knowledge gained in Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation, students will build a business case for health promotion within the workplace to secure key stakeholder commitment for wellness programming and resources by ensuring program alignment with organizational strategy.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Introduction to Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness
OHS8250

Description: This course will provide an introduction to and foundation for all other courses in the program. Students will learn about an organization’s moral, legal and ethical responsibilities to the safety and wellness of its workers. Concepts explored include: due diligence; health and safety legislation, regulations, standards, policies, procedures, and best practices; duties of workplace parties; inspections, investigations, and audits; disability management; work disability prevention; physical. biological and chemical and safety hazard/risk assessment and mitigation; occupational hygiene; psychological health and safety in the workplace including violence and harassment; emergency preparedness; the role of training in health and safety; safety culture/climate; and health promotion in the workplace.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Career Management
CDEV8132

Description: This course focuses on career management skills needed to navigate the evolving workplace. Students will evaluate their skills, attitudes, and expectations within their chosen careers and explore emerging trends in the workplace. Students will refine their networking strategies and create marketing documents to position them for success. Mock interviews will provide the opportunity for practice, feedback, and reflection as students prepare for future interviews. Students will explore communication strategies that support workplace success and advancement. By the end of this course, students will have created a personalized career management plan.

Hours: 28
Credits: 2
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation
OHS8032

Description: In this course students will learn to design, implement, manage, and evaluate the effectiveness of OHSW programs in the workplace, referring to relevant and validated health, safety and wellness theories and evidence-informed practices. Students will learn how to collect and analyze data related to worker/workplace needs and integrate evidence-informed best practices to design a successful program. Next, students will learn the skills and steps necessary to project program planning and implementation. Finally, students will explore a variety of evaluation models and design, and learn to apply these to program evaluation with an end goal of providing valid an reliable data for organizational decision-making.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Hazard Identification and Applied Safety Processes
OHS8050

Description: Building on the foundational knowledge developed in Introduction to Health, Wellness & Safe Workplace, this course will focus on the operationalization of workplace safety in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, standards, and guidelines. Topics of focus will include safeguards, personal protective equipment, hazardous materials and materials handling, and proper techniques for working with equipment. Through simulations and case studies, students will gain experience in conducting workplace inspections, incident investigations, and audits. Additional topics include: confined space, hazmat, trench rescue, hot work, elevated work, working alone and remote work. The role of management systems in promoting a strong safety and wellness culture will be explored

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: OHS8020 OR OHS8250
CoRequisites:

Risk Management and Emergency Preparedness (Safety)
OHS8080

Description: In this course, students will learn how to take a proactive approach to risk and emergency management. Students will learn to identify, assess and evaluate risks and controls to manage workplace occupational health and safety programs effectively. Students will explore risk and emergency management theories and models to be able to apply these concepts and principles in the workplace. Students will also gain an understanding of the fundamentals of the planning and preparation required for organizations to respond before, during and after an emergency to reduce the impact on business operations and continuity.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Consulting Project
OHS8100

Description: Students will implement their consulting proposal based upon the project goals established in the first term, Consulting Proposal. Students will work in teams to deliver the agreed upon consulting proposal to the organization and present a summary of learning to program faculty, organizational partners, and fellow students.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: MGMT8300 AND OHS8020 OR OHS8250 AND OHS8040 OR OHS8045
CoRequisites:

Disability Management and Return-to-Work (RTW) Coordination
OHS8115

Description:

Disability management refers to proactive employer practices with the goals of preventing or reducing workplace disability, intervening early in the face of injury, and providing coordinated management and rehabilitation functions to promote workers’ recovery and safe and timely return to work (RTW). This course will provide an in-depth investigation of the role of disability management (DM) programs as a means to promoting a strong safety and wellness culture within an organization and address all facets of work disability prevention. The focus will be on performing executive functions, including: administration of DM services, development of policies and procedures, promotion of RTW concepts through education and training, consulting to joint labour-management committees, evaluation of services and community resources, selecting DM partners, etc. Students will learn how to develop a business case for a DM program and apply learning from Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation to the DM program context. This course will focus on developing an understanding of how to expedite, coordinate and facilitate the return to work of persons with injuries, illnesses and disabilities in a range of settings. Using cases, students will learn how to work with stakeholders to develop RTW plans for workers with a variety of illnesses or injuries in various organizational contexts, including both union and non-union settings. Students will apply concepts and strategies from Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving to learn to build collaborative relationships with all parties to facilitate early and timely return to work for employees following a leave of absence. Specific topics include: legislation and benefits programs related to leaves and RTW; workplace attendance support; claims management; disability case management; risk assessment and workplace accommodation; graduated RTW; documentation and confidentiality; and management of psychological disabilities.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Health and Safety Administration and Management Systems
OHS8260

Description: This course will begin with a review of the reasons why a comprehensive health and safety program is of benefit to workplaces. It will cover some principles in the development and monitoring of workplace health and safety programs using a management model. Also included is a discussion on the importance of involvement by all levels of workers and management. Demonstrate an understanding of the benefits which a comprehensive health and safety program can provide to a workplace. This course follows the management system standards commonly applied in Canada, and covers the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) as specified in OHSAS 18001:2007 and CSA: Z1000-06.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites: OHS8020 OR OHS8250
CoRequisites:

Program outcomes

Assess risk for harm to workers within the workplace in order to identify opportunities for promoting and protecting individual and organizational well-being.
Design and evaluate the effectiveness of OHSW programs, referring to relevant and validated health, safety and wellness theories and evidence-informed best practices.
Develop and evaluate OHSW policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with Canadian legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines.
Propose solutions for issues related to disability management, return to work, and health and safety through the interpretation and application of relevant legislation, regulations, standards, and related benefits programs.
Employ effective interpersonal communication and problem solving skills, and ethical and professional conduct, in working with stakeholders to resolve health, safety and wellness challenges within organizations.
Promote a strong safety and wellness culture within organizations by incorporating the biopsychosocial model of health into human resource and OHSW initiatives.
Recommend controls, interventions, and/or emergency response plans to mitigate workplace risks and hazards that emerge as a result of inspections, investigations, compliance and management system audits.
Apply human resource management principles appropriate for diverse workplace environments that support organizational business decisions.
Evaluate business propositions and promotional strategies developed to address HSW initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals.