Emerging needs in OSH: a new master in occupational safety and health by ILO and University of Turin

Public and private sector organizations worldwide are increasingly concerned with improving occupational safety and health (OSH) and increasingly seek skilled OSH professionals. Becoming an OSH professional requires a multidisciplinary training. Since 2012, the University of Turin, along with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO), the International Labour Office (ILO) and the International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH) collected this challenge and opened a master course in OSH. The aim is to assess the consistency and effectiveness of the emerging educational proposal. The proposed programme is opened to participants from both developing and developed countries. Besides a preparatory Internet-based Distance Learning Phase, enabling participants with different backgrounds to reach an adequate level of knowledge, this one-year programme includes a residential period, followed by another distance phase for the preparation of the dissertation. Residential Phase of Turin includes classroom training, study visits to selected enterprises and related training sessions. From 2007 to 2018 more than 300 participants applied first to the Postgraduate course and then to the Master in OSH, with variable occupational backgrounds such as public institutions, private companies and Universities. 65,7% (SD 8,1%) of the participants were enrolled to the Residential Phase, with a mean age of 38 years (SD 7,4), 55,9% (SD 5,2%) achieved the Master Degree. Different evaluation strategies were used. The average satisfaction survey score was high (4,28; SD 0,67). At the end of the training period, participants learnt to manage the use of OSH procedures and techniques and health management systems. The results of the profit and satisfaction questionnaires demonstrate the effectiveness of the course.