Open Awards · RQF Level 3
Open Awards Level 3 Certificate for Occupational Health Technicians (RQF)
You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.
- LevelRQF Level 3
- Total credits15
- Guided learning105 hours
- Units in this qualification6
Awarded by Open Awards · on the Ofqual register
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See how this course maps onto your role
Ten quick questions, one per Future Fluency, asked against this qualification rather than a generic one.
About 5 minutes · No card · Nothing to commit to
What you’ll learn
What each unit actually teaches you to do
Open Awards is a National Awarding Organisation, Access Validating Agency and End-point Assessment Organisation specialising in the delivery of Functional Skills, Alternative Education and Vocational qualifications.
These are the units Open Awards registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.
Professional Behaviours for Occupational Health TechniciansReal unit · Open Awards
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of organisational policies and procedures
- Summarise the benefits of following own organisation’s policies and procedures
- Explain the reporting lines for own role within organisation
- Understand the role and responsibilities of the Occupational Health Technician in relation to safeguarding
- Explain how to recognise safeguarding concerns
- Explain the process for disclosing or referring concerns about safeguarding
- Explain the role and responsibilities of the Occupational Health Technician in relation to safeguarding individuals
- Understand how to work with others to promote equality and diversity within the Occupational Health Technician role
- Summarise the relevant legislation, policies and codes of practice relevant to the promotion of equality and valuing of diversity
- Describe actions by individuals which can undermine equality and diversity
- Review strategies for resolving the actions described in outcome 10
- Understand the role of the Occupational Health Technician in establishing and maintaining quality standards and frameworks associated with Occupational Health Service Provision
- Explain the requirements of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine’s Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Service standards (SEQOHS)
- Explain the quality management principles in the International Standards Organisations (ISO9000/1) as they apply to the role of the Occupational Health Technicians
- Describe the main components of clinical governance within Occupational Health as they apply to own role
- Describe the processes in place to ensure Clinical Governance within your own organisation
- Reflect on an event or experience in your own practice and how you changed or improved your practice as a result
- Understand how to reflect on workplace experience and training to continue own personal and professional development
- Evaluate own strengths and areas for development against your own area of practice within Occupational Health
- Demonstrate a system for planning and evidencing own clinical competency and continuing professional development
- Communicate effectively to meet organisational requirements
- Identify the different methods of communication used to all stakeholders in an Occupational Health Technician’s role
- Give three examples from own experience where communication has been adapted to overcome problems
- Understand the need to obtain consent from employees
- Explain the importance of obtaining consent from employees
- Describe the organisational process for obtaining employer consent
Risk Management for the Occupational Health TechnicianReal unit · Open Awards
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role of health and safety for the Occupational Health Technician
- Outline the health and safety legislation relevant to the Occupational Health Technician
- Explain the role of the Health and Safety Executive
- Compare the potential health risks associated with the working population in two contrasting sectors
- Describe the control measures associated with the two working populations identified in 1.3
- Explain the Health Surveillance requirements associated with the two working populations
- Explain the Fitness for Role requirements associated with the two working populations
- Critically compare the basic principles of: a) Health Surveillance b) Fitness for role assessment and c) Wellbeing/health promotion
- Understand the importance of risk assessment and management for the Occupational Health Technician
- Explain the principle and benefit of risk assessment
- Explain the components of an organisational/trust risk management policy
- Identify areas of risk for an Occupational Health Technician
- Explain how to report concerns to senior colleagues and the appropriate reporting channels
- Explain how to report adverse incidents appropriately, using relevant documentation
- Understand the importance of infection prevention and control
- Explain the hygiene principles for the Occupational Health Technician before and after contact with a client
- Establish how to adhere to standard operating procedures relating to Infection Prevention and Control policies.
- Explain the reporting procedures for incidents and areas of concern.
- Reflect on own experiences of reporting areas of concern regarding infection prevention /control
Safe and Effective use of Screening Equipment for Occupational Health TechniciansReal unit · Open Awards
What you'll be able to do
- Select and prepare the correct equipment for screening, observing infection prevention and control measures
- Locate the relevant equipment
- Carry out safety and hygiene check prior to use
- Carry out own safety and hygiene checks prior to carrying out the procedure
- Explain what to do in the instance of identifying damaged or faulty equipment
- Understand how to calibrate equipment where necessary
- Explain why it is important to calibrate measuring equipment
- Explain why it is important to record the outcomes of calibrating equipment
- Explain the difference between physiological control, verification and calibration of equipment
- Identify when physiological control, verification and calibration should be carried out in practice
- Explain the procedure for using equipment, for obtaining accurate readings and conveying their meaning to the client
- Explain the procedure and what it is designed for to a client
- Follow the correct procedures, observing all organisations protocols
- Identify results accurately and report them according to organisational procedures
- Provide appropriate advice, guidance/education to the client based on the information derived
- Explain the process for escalating concerns to a registered health care professional
- Carry out quality control checks for each piece of equipment in relation to the service delivery
- Carry out maintenance, cleaning and any required quality checks prior to storing the equipment
- Store the equipment safely and securely in its appropriate place
- Explain why it is important to follow legal and organisational procedures when disposing of waste products
- Explain the importance of stock control, identify any impending stock issues and follow the organisational procedures for replenishment, rotation
The Roles and Responsibilities of the Occupational Health TechnicianReal unit · Open Awards
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role of the Occupational Health Technician
- Summarise the duties of an Occupational Health Technician
- Evaluate the function of the Occupational Health Service
- Understand the responsibilities and accountability of an Occupational Health Technician
- Explain how the Code of professional conduct applies to the role of the Occupational Health Technician
- Summarise the boundaries of responsibility and accountability of the Occupational Health Technician
- Explain how the duty of care applies to the role of the Occupational Health Technician
- Explain the requirement for continuing professional development to ensure currency of practice
- Understand how to maintain confidentiality within the Occupational Health Technician role
- Explain the importance of confidentiality for the Occupational Health Technician
- Give examples of legislation that applies to the role of an Occupational Health Technician which supports confidentiality
- Understand the different records held within Occupational Health and their importance
- Identify the range of records and documents held by the organisation/trust relating to the Occupational Health Technician’s role
- Give examples of the purposes of a selection of documents which are relevant to the Occupational Health Technician role
- Understand the rights of access to records held by Occupational Health for employers and employees
- Explain what is meant by a Subject Access Request
- Give examples of why a Subject Access Request may be raised
- Understand how the different types of “Consent” are applied within an Occupational Health role
- Explain the difference between ‘consent’ in relation to the Access to Medical Reports Act and ‘consent’ in relation to the Data Protection Act
- Reflect on when and why Employee Consent might be requested
Understanding Fitness for Role ScreeningReal unit · Open Awards
What you'll be able to do
- Distinguish the main types of fitness evaluations used in Occupational Health
- Explain the differences between fitness for role screening and health surveillance
- Explain the importance of fitness for role screening for: * The Employee * The Employer * The Occupational Health Technician
- Explain the difference between the following fitness for role standards: * Legal requirement * Approved code of practice * HSE guidance * Best practice * Company policy
- Provide at least one example of each fitness for role standard, with reference to the standards listed in outcome 4
- Explain how equality legislation affects fitness for role screening
- Explain the importance of risk assessment in relation to fitness for role standards
- Identify national and local sources of information which could be used to identify fitness for role standards
- Recognise where certain fitness for role screenings are inappropriate
- Understand how the Occupational Health Technician role contributes to mitigating risks
- Explain, using examples, where fitness for role screening could reduce risks to the employee and others
- Carry out fitness for role screening to professional standards
- Explain where clinical professional standards may be published for: * Drivers * Fire Service * Police * Divers * Construction workers * Rail track side workers
- Discuss the framework for decision making in relation to fitness for role screening within own organisation
- Demonstrate performing fitness for role screening for the following to the identified professional standards: * Vision screening * Blood pressure testing * Pulse measurement * Height and weight measurements * Musculoskeletal (Range of Movement) Assessment
- Ensure that all results have been collected correctly
- Explain how the screening outcomes are processed in line with standard operating procedures/decision making framework
- Evaluate own performance during the screening process
- Explain the importance of clinical governance and supervised practice in ensuring quality of fitness for role screening
- Understand how to follow up, refer and intervene as necessary
- Explain the correct use of organisational procedures when escalating an individual following screening
- Explain the organisational procedure for following up with an employee/client
Understanding Health Risk Management and Health ImprovementReal unit · Open Awards
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the effects of work on health
- Describe what is meant by the following terms and give examples of each: * Health risk management * Health protection * Health improvement
- Describe, giving examples, the potential impact of workplace risks on the worker population and their effect on health
- Explain how to identify Health Improvement priorities within the working environment
- Understand the purpose of biological monitoring, and health surveillance
- Explain the purpose of biological monitoring
- Explain the effectiveness of an example of biological monitoring used in role
- Explain the purpose of health surveillance
- Explain the effectiveness of an example of health surveillance used in role
- Understand the legislation, national guidance and professional standards associated with health surveillance programmes
- Explain the legal requirements for health surveillance and when health surveillance is required
- Explain where clinical professional standards may be published for: * Performing audiometry * Performing spirometry * Performing hand-arm vibration Tier 1 and 2 surveillance * Performing skin surveillance * Performing blood pressure tests * Performing height and weight measurements
- Provide at least two examples of the methods of health surveillance required in different situations
- Perform health surveillance activities to professional standards
- Demonstrate performing health surveillance for the following to the identified professional standards: * Audiometry * Spirometry * Hand-arm vibration Tier 1 and 2 surveillance * Skin surveillance
- Explain the importance of audit in ensuring quality of health surveillance service delivery
- Carry out a workplace health and wellbeing improvement activity working in partnership with others
- Design a health improvement/wellbeing activity for a workplace
- Implement the activity in a workplace setting
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the activity and carry out any required follow up
- Reflect on the activity and identify opportunities for improvement in future activities
The honest bit
You’ve started things before
Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.
There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.
And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.
Your passport
Every credit is a stamp you keep
Level 3 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.
Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.
Who’d teach you this
The Evidence Evaluator
Assessor
Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.
Meet all twelve tutorsWhere this connects
Where these credits take you
A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.
- Assess whether home haemodialysis is feasible for a patient
- Collect and validate surveillance data to monitor risks to population health, wellbeing and safety
- Implement interventions with individuals at risk of osteoporosis
- Monitor and analyse routine surveillance data to assess risks to health, wellbeing and safety
- Optimise performance of healthcare equipment, medical devices, products and associated systems
Where this can lead
Occupational Health Technician
Your journey starts here as an Occupational Health Technician, but where you go is really up to you. We're committed to supporting your development, whether you want to become a highly skilled clinical specialist or eventually move into leadership. The opportunities are there for those who are driven to learn and make a real difference to people's working lives.
See the whole journey →Showing 6 roles, drawn from 13 job records mapped to this qualification.
Skills it covers
What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
How you’ll actually learn this
One-to-one, on your own real work
A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.
Applied to your work in any of these jobs
Learners will understand the importance of adhering to organisational policies and procedures within the Occupational Health Technician role. The unit covers professional behaviours, reporting lines, safeguarding responsibilities, and the benefits of compliance for efficiency and consistency.
- Remember
- Understand
- Apply
- Analyse
- Evaluate
- Create
Built for Open Awards Level 3 Certificate for Occupational Health Technicians (RQF)
6 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by Open Awards.
- Professional Behaviours for Occupational Health Technicians
- Risk Management for the Occupational Health Technician
- Safe and Effective use of Screening Equipment for Occupational Health Technicians
- The Roles and Responsibilities of the Occupational Health Technician
- Understanding Fitness for Role Screening
- Understanding Health Risk Management and Health Improvement
One to one, not one to many
No two people run this the same way
A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.
- Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
- What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
- The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
- How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
- Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.
See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.
Why it sticks
Most courses stop at remembering
There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.
- 6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
- 5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
- 4AnalyseThe Analyst
- 3ApplyThe Coach
- 2UnderstandThe Connector
- 1RememberThe Builder
Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you
The value
Why the companion is worth £70 a month
You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.
That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.
Earned on your own work, taught to the top.
Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it.
Build my plan, freeNo card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.