UFred Among First in Canada to Commit to Universal Health and Safety Training Standards at Historic International Signing Ceremony in Singapore

FREDERICTON, Sept. 5, 2017 /CNW/ - The University of Fredericton (UFred) has joined an international coalition to create universal standards for health and safety training to reduce workplace injury and death around the world.

On September 3, 2017 delegates from UFred joined more than 40 organizations from around the globe in signing the Singapore Accord, a historic first step in the shift to a global standard in the field of health and safety, conceived by the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organisations (INSHPO).

"Our goal is to ensure that a mother working in a factory in Bangalore will have a healthy and safe work environment just as a mother in Ottawa can expect. That she will return home to her family at the end of the day," said UFred President Don Roy, who is in Singapore for the Accord signing. "Our commitment is to offer our expertise to the development of standards that will make this happen. Then, to align our programs to the standards that will be created and deliver quality educational programs that are accessible, affordable, and available anywhere, because we are already completely 100% online."

The Singapore Accord represents a commitment to continued cooperation and collaboration in developing global standards of practice for improving the skills of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals. These standards, known as the Global Capabilities Framework, were conceptualized by INSHPO and will lead the way towards creating universally safer workplaces.

"The global framework represents the most significant initiative ever produced on the international stage, by the health and safety profession, across multiple countries and jurisdictions," said UFred artner and INSHPO President Eldeen Pozniak from Singapore. "It displays for the first time a common commitment to define the critical roles which are taken up by practitioners and professionals to prevent workplace injury, illness, and fatalities, in a language to be used commonly throughout the world."

Currently, differing standards of practice exist between jurisdictions globally on matters of occupational health and safety. Conditions such as these have resulted in appalling human suffering and severe economic burden. The objective of the Singapore Accord is to use evidenced based, scientifically proven concepts from a variety of professionals and practitioners to develop preventative measures and standards of practice.  

Signatories of the accord are members of business and workers, educational institutions, government policy-makers, and associations and experts in the field of OHS. These individuals will be the driving force behind the establishment of defined and consistent standards required for competence in OHS roles and to lend credence to the endeavor to gain acceptance from various authorities in government and business. 

"Our structure allows us to react quickly to industry needs and update or add new programs in a timely manner," said Sheri McKillop, Dean of the School of Occupational Health and Safety at UFred. "Health and safety standards are rapidly evolving, so we consult our professional advisory committees and industry partners regularly to ensure we are offering the type of education and skills in demand right now."

By signing the accord, UFred is committing to use the Occupational Health and Safety Professional Capability Framework – A Global Framework for Practice, developed by INSHPO, to develop and review its OHS education programs to ensure that they comply with the Framework.  

To learn more about the Singapore Accord, click here. For a full list of Singapore Accord signatories, click here.  To see the OHS Professional Capability Framework, click here. 

About the University of Fredericton

The University of Fredericton (UFred) is a fully online University based out of Fredericton, NB.  UFred is home to a range of OHS diplomas, certificates, and continuing education modules, and features an Executive MBA with a specialty stream in Health and Safety Leadership, offered in partnership with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE). Visit www.ufred.ca to learn more.

To arrange an interview with UFred president Don Roy in Singapore please contact Sarah Chiasson, Marketing and Communications Manager, who is accompanying the UFred contingent in Singapore. There is a 12-hour time difference. Sarah can be reached at [email protected].

SOURCE University of Fredericton

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]