University teaches safety

A WA university is teaching South East Asians how to reduce work-related injuries and illness.

About 50 students from Singapore and another 100 from Hong Kong are now involved in Curtin University’s Occupational Health and Safety programs.

There are already several Curtin OHS graduates in senior positions in South East Asian governments and industry.

Dean of graduate studies, research and development in Curtin’s health sciences division Jeffrey Spickett said a new Masters of Occu-pational Health and Safety (MOHS) post graduate degree would be offered in Hong Kong later this year.

The course started in Singapore last year and a related Singapore Bachelor of Science program is now also underway.

Professor Spickett said the development of the Hong Kong program goes back about five years and stemmed from demand from government inspectors wanting to upgrade their qualifications.