Management of Health and Safety Systems
- Online delivery
- eClass
- 39 hour course
Effectively developing, managing, and measuring the effectiveness of health and safety systems is a challenge for all health and safety professionals. This course will introduce students to the basic issues and provide tools to make the task easier. This course presents an overview of factors influencing the success of health and safety systems. These factors include understanding organizational “safety culture”, understanding effective and efficient management principles, establishing priorities, measuring program success, presenting information effectively, analyzing financial impacts of programs. This course will provide a basic overview of management skills and principles and how they apply to the development of safety systems within an organization or company. Prerequisite: EXOS 4620.
Course at a glance
- Offered fully online or through blended (online + in-class) learning.
- Aimed at entry-level and practicing health and safety coordinators, professionals, officers, technicians, supervisors, trainers, management, and administrators.
What you will learn
- Perform effective health and safety work planning within the context of an organization's culture, capacity, and objectives.
- Evaluate and understand the impact of an organization's structure and culture on the effectiveness of its occupational health and safety management systems.
- Analyze incident information and key performance indicators to understand their impact on the organization and to recommend corrective measures and improvements to the occupational health and safety management system.
- Align and integrate workplace standards, best practices, and continual improvement strategies and methods within an organization's occupational health and safety management systems.
- Recognize the impact of stakeholder behaviours and motivators on the implementation of effective health and safety systems.
- Develop and communicate a health and safety improvement plan in accordance with risk management and communication principles.
- Describe the elements of OHS practitioner codes of ethics/conduct and be able to apply an ethical dilemma resolution process.
Take note:
- This course is offered several times throughout the year; each specific offering is called a “course section.” Some sections of EXOS 4621 are delivered entirely online; others are taught through a mix of online and in-class instruction (blended).
- When selecting the dates and the section you want to enrol in, look for the note that indicates the delivery format of that specific section—and make sure you have chosen a section that’s offered in your desired format (online or blended).
- The online components of this course are facilitated through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool.
Prerequisites
Offered:
Course duration
Jan 18, 2021Mar 27, 2021
Asynchronous online learning, eClass
39 hours of instruction
In asynchronous online courses, students are expected to move through the course material at the same pace as their peers, but there are no real-time virtual classroom sessions to attend. All components of this type of course are accessible through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool. format details

Your Instructor
Susan SawatzkyID: susan-sawatzky
Susan Sawatzky is an independent consultant specializing in fatigue risk management, stress management, and psychological health and safety in the workplace. She is the South Region Manager with the Alberta Construction Safety Association. An international keynote speaker, Susan has presented for a variety of organizations with notable clients including NASA, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and the Global Conference on Fatigue Management. Her industry experience includes assisting in the advancement of NASA’s Fatigue Management Program and creating fatigue policy and guidelines with the Canadian oil and gas industry.
Textbook
Required
DYCK
Occupational Health & Safety: Theory, Strategy & I
4 edition
ISBN 9780433502074
Class info
-
This is an asynchronous course. To start your online learning experience visit www.ext-leo.ca/students
-
39 course hours in total
-
Cost assistance: May be eligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant and the Canada Training Benefit. (view all)
Corporate multi-registration packages (groups of 4 or more) are available for most Extension courses. Contact us at corporate.learning@ualberta.ca for preferred pricing. -
Open for registration until January 18, 2021. Register at least one week before the course start date to secure your spot. If space is available you may register until the day the course starts.
Overall Schedule
Mar 8 — pre-class information opens
Students in this course section may have pre-class readings or assessments to complete.
Lecture/Class Schedule
Mar 12Mar 15
8:30 am – 5:00 pm MST
8:30 am – 5:00 pm MST
8:30 am – 5:00 pm MST
8:30 am – 5:00 pm MST
Mar 29 — post-class component closes
Students in this section may have post-class readings or assessments to complete.
Synchronous online learning, eClass
39 hours of instruction
In synchronous online courses, students move through the course material at the same pace as their peers. These courses also provide learners with pre-scheduled online lectures that have the instructor and students interacting at the same time. All components of this type of course are accessible through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool. format details
Your Instructor
Ryan DavisID: ryan-davis
Ryan Davis is a management and OHS consultant based out of Edmonton, Alberta. His practice focuses on measuring health and safety management systems, education, and data analysis. Ryan holds an MBA, is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional, a Certified Health and Safety Consultant, and Certified EHS Trainer. He also serves as the Treasurer for the Alberta Society of Health and Safety Professionals (ASHSP). Ryan has had the good fortune to partner with a number of great companies and associations over the years, including the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), Grande Prairie Regional College, and the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA).
Textbook
Required
DYCK
Occupational Health & Safety: Theory, Strategy & I
4 edition
ISBN 9780433502074
Class info
-
This is a synchronous course that features live online activities at predetermined times. To start your online learning experience visit www.ext-leo.ca/students
-
39 course hours in total
-
Cost assistance: May be eligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant and the Canada Training Benefit. (view all)
Corporate multi-registration packages (groups of 4 or more) are available for most Extension courses. Contact us at corporate.learning@ualberta.ca for preferred pricing. -
Open for registration until March 8, 2021. Register at least one week before the course start date to secure your spot. If space is available you may register until the day the course starts.
Course duration
Apr 19, 2021Jun 26, 2021
Asynchronous online learning, eClass
39 hours of instruction
In asynchronous online courses, students are expected to move through the course material at the same pace as their peers, but there are no real-time virtual classroom sessions to attend. All components of this type of course are accessible through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool. format details

Your Instructor
Susan SawatzkyID: susan-sawatzky
Susan Sawatzky is an independent consultant specializing in fatigue risk management, stress management, and psychological health and safety in the workplace. She is the South Region Manager with the Alberta Construction Safety Association. An international keynote speaker, Susan has presented for a variety of organizations with notable clients including NASA, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and the Global Conference on Fatigue Management. Her industry experience includes assisting in the advancement of NASA’s Fatigue Management Program and creating fatigue policy and guidelines with the Canadian oil and gas industry.
Textbook
Required
Dyck, D.E.G.
Occupational Health & Safety: Theory, Strategy & I
ISBN 9780433502074
Class info
-
39 course hours in total
-
Cost assistance: May be eligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant and the Canada Training Benefit. (view all)
Corporate multi-registration packages (groups of 4 or more) are available for most Extension courses. Contact us at corporate.learning@ualberta.ca for preferred pricing. -
Open for registration until April 19, 2021. Register at least one week before the course start date to secure your spot. If space is available you may register until the day the course starts.
Currently counts towards
-
Certificate
in
Occupational Health & Safety
└ core course
* If you are already enroled in this program, please refer to your specific program requirements as outlined at the time of your admission: Bear Tracks > Academic Advisement.
You can register for and take a course without applying and enrolling into the program.
We recommend that you apply to the program as soon as possible to lock in your course requirements as they are subject to change.
Looking for different course dates?
New course schedules are released each June and November.
- Online delivery
- 39 hour course
A note about courses during COVID-19: all online
All courses will be delivered online, including many that were previously unavailable in the online format.
If you do see a course or program on our website announced as an in-person or downtown Edmonton offering, please disregard the format – but not the course. There will be no in-person offerings through the Faculty of Extension for the Winter, Spring, and Summer 2021 terms.
Get ready to keep learning! Register for a course and join us online this year.