A new centre for education, research and professional development in health and safety is to be launched by the University of Strathclyde.

Strathclyde Centre for Occupational Safety and Health (SCOSH) has been established to support the increasing demand for high-quality management of occupational health and safety. It has partly been given impetus by a shift in how business leaders think about employees’ physical and mental health, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centre builds on a strong learning legacy, including the market-leading Certificate in Professional Development and Radiation Protection. One of its first initiatives is a new series of introductory level courses in Health and Safety Risk Management – funded by the Scottish Funding Council – starting in 2023.

The Centre will also bring together a university-wide network of academics engaged in work relating to occupational health and safety. This collaborative approach will drive the development of research, teaching and knowledge exchange, leading to unrivalled learning opportunities for those with an interest or responsibility for health and safety.

Strathclyde is already the largest provider of postgraduate safety related education in the UK.

Callum MacDonald, Head of SCOSH, said: “The team involved with SCOSH have been delivering online and blended learning relating to health, safety and risk management for approximately 20 years. Through this large, expert group of professional practitioners, SCOSH will deliver learning that is immediately useable in the workplace. 

“In addition to defined courses such as the postgraduate programme, SCOSH will also offer shorter term consultancy and training.”

SCOSH will be officially launched at an event on Thursday 4 May, during the annual Engage With Strathclyde Week. Guest speakers are to include Iain Brodie, the Health and Safety Executive’s Director for Scotland / Deputy Director, Field Operations Division, who will provide details on the Executive’s 10-year strategy.

The free event, at Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre, will run from 8am – 10am. Register for the event.