About this module
Every worker deserves to go home safe. Most accidents at work can be prevented by people who know what to look for and what to do. This module teaches you that.
Who it is for. Anyone starting work or training, at National Proficiency I, where people do routine tasks under supervision and no formal certificate is needed. Use it before or alongside any trade training at the hub.
Why it matters
- Ghana's Labour Department recorded 23 work deaths and 780 injuries in 2021, and 37 deaths and 1,006 injuries in 2022, and said many deaths are never reported.
- Most of Ghana's workers are in the informal economy, and the country has very few safety inspectors. In small workshops, you are often the only safety officer.
- A study of 250 informal welders in Kumasi found almost all reported burns and cuts, and very few wore full protective equipment.
- Artisans at Kokompe in Accra suffered injuries and body pain from bad posture, heavy lifting and no safety measures.
CTVET status. No CTVET competency-based programme in occupational health and safety was found at National Proficiency I. Safety is taught inside each trade. This module is not a CTVET curriculum. Ghana's national Occupational Safety and Health law is not yet passed; the Ministry launched Ghana's first national OSH profile in October 2025 as a step towards a policy and a law. Check for updates.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent from what your assessor sees, asks and reads in your logbook. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme, which uses about 30% in school and 70% at the workplace.
Unit 1 · Your rights and duties
Safety is a shared job. The law gives duties to the employer and to you.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Know the employer's duties | names five things the employer must provide |
| 1.2 Know your duties | uses the PPE given; follows safety rules |
| 1.3 Know your right to leave danger | states what to do in imminent and serious danger |
| 1.4 Know the age rules | states the minimum age for hazardous work |
Range. Any workplace in Ghana. Evidence. Oral questions.
The employer must
- Make sure every worker works in safe and healthy conditions.
- Provide safe equipment and safe ways of working, and make sure chemicals are used, stored and moved safely.
- Give information, training and supervision that suit the worker's age and literacy.
- Protect workers from toxic gases, dust and fumes.
- Supply safety equipment, fire-fighting equipment and PPE free of charge, and show workers how to use them.
- Provide separate toilets and washing places for men and women, and clean drinking water.
An employer who fails can be fined or jailed.
You must
Use the safety equipment and PPE provided. If you are hurt only because you didn't use it, the employer may not be responsible.
Your right to leave danger
If you reasonably believe there is imminent and serious danger, report it to your supervisor at once and move away. You cannot be sacked or lose pay for this, and you cannot be made to go back while the danger continues.
Accidents and compensation
- The employer must report work accidents and diseases to the government within 7 days.
- Under the Workmen's Compensation law, injured workers, including casual and temporary workers, are compensated whoever was at fault, and employers must insure for this.
Age
Nobody under 18 may do hazardous work, which includes carrying heavy loads, work with chemicals, and work where machines are used. The minimum age for any job is 15, and children may not work at night.
Whose job?
For each, say: employer's duty, worker's duty, or both. (1) Buying gloves. (2) Wearing gloves. (3) Providing drinking water. (4) Reporting a broken ladder. (5) Training a new worker who cannot read. (6) Reporting a serious accident to the government.
Ask a worker
Ask someone who works for an employer: what safety equipment are they given? Do they have drinking water and toilets? Write the answers.
Unit 2 · Hazards and risks
A hazard is anything that can hurt you. The risk is how likely it is to hurt you, and how badly.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Tell hazard from risk | explains the difference with an example |
| 2.2 Name hazard types | gives an example of each type |
| 2.3 Do a simple risk assessment | follows the five steps on a real task |
Range. Farm, workshop, kitchen, shop. Evidence. Hazard hunt record; risk assessment sheet.
Hazard and risk
A hazard is any source of possible harm; risk is the chance that someone will be harmed. A wet floor is a hazard; the risk depends on how many people walk on it and what shoes they wear.
Six types of hazard
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Safety | Sharp tools, moving machines, ladders, wet floors |
| Physical | Heat, noise, sun, electricity |
| Chemical | Caustic soda, pesticides, fuel, fumes |
| Biological | Animal dung, blood, germs in dirty water |
| Ergonomic | Heavy lifting, bending all day, repeated movements |
| Psychosocial | Bullying, harassment, stress, very long hours |
Five steps of risk assessment
- Find the hazards.
- Decide who could be harmed and how.
- Control the risks.
- Write down what you found and did.
- Review it, and update it when things change.
Hazard hunt
- In pairs, walk through a hub area (farm, workshop or kitchen) with your trainer.
- Find at least ten hazards. For each, write the type and who could be hurt.
- Choose one task (for example, mixing caustic soda or using a cutlass) and fill in a five-step risk assessment sheet.
- Share with the class.
Home hazard hunt
Find five hazards in your home or compound. Write what you could do about each one.
Unit 3 · Control the risk and wear your PPE
First remove the danger. Protective clothing is the last line of defence, not the first.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Use the hierarchy of controls | suggests controls in the right order for a hazard |
| 3.2 Choose and wear PPE | picks the right PPE; puts it on, checks and stores it |
| 3.3 Read safety signs | names the meaning of each sign colour and shape |
Range. PPE for farm, workshop and kitchen work. Evidence. Observation; sign quiz.
The hierarchy of controls
From most to least effective:
- Remove the hazard (elimination).
- Replace it with something safer (substitution).
- Isolate people from it with a guard, a barrier or ventilation (engineering).
- Change the way people work: rules, training, signs, rotas (administrative).
- Wear PPE.
PPE is the last resort, because it only protects the wearer and only if it fits and is worn.
PPE
PPE protects your lungs, head, feet, eyes and skin: helmets, gloves, goggles, hi-vis clothing, safety boots and harnesses. Workers should be trained to use it and should report damaged PPE.
Safety signs
| Sign | Shape and colour | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | Red circle with a line across | Do not |
| Mandatory | Blue circle | You must |
| Warning | Yellow triangle | Danger |
| Safe condition | Green square | Exit, first aid |
| Fire equipment | Red square | Fire extinguisher, alarm |
Order the controls
A workshop grinder throws sparks and is very loud. Suggest one control at each level of the hierarchy.
PPE station
- At each station (soap making, welding, farm spraying, kitchen), choose the right PPE from the pile.
- Put it on correctly; your partner checks fit.
- Inspect it for damage; take it off and store it properly.
- Sort printed signs into the five groups.
Signs in town
Photograph or sketch five safety signs you see in town. Name the group each belongs to.
Unit 4 · Lift, move and work comfortably
Back pain ends many working lives early. Lift smart, not hard.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Plan a lift | checks the load, the route and whether help is needed |
| 4.2 Lift safely | lifts with good technique |
| 4.3 Prevent slips and trips | clears the route; reports spills and trailing cables |
Range. Sacks, boxes, buckets, crates. Evidence. Observation of lifts.
Good lifting
- Plan: where is it going? Is the route clear? Do you need help or a trolley?
- Stand close, feet apart, one leg slightly forward.
- Bend your knees and hips a little; don't stoop.
- Hold the load close to your waist.
- Keep your head up; move smoothly.
- Don't twist: turn by moving your feet.
- Don't lift more than you can easily manage.
How heavy?
| Load held close, at... | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Waist height | 25 kg | 16 kg |
| Elbow height | 20 kg | 13 kg |
| Shoulder height | 10 kg | 7 kg |
These are guide figures, not safe limits. If your arms are stretched out, the safe weight is about half.
Is there a legal weight limit? No fixed limit was found in Ghana's law, and UK law also sets none. A 50 kg bag of feed or cement is double the guide figure for men at waist height. Share the load, use a trolley or wheelbarrow, or buy smaller bags.
Slips and trips
Keep floors clean and dry, wipe up spills straight away, wear suitable footwear and keep cables out of walkways.
Lifting practice
- Practise the lift with an empty box, then 5 kg, 10 kg and 15 kg loads.
- Your partner checks each step against the list.
- Practise a two-person lift of a heavier sack.
- Walk a route; remove trip hazards first.
Weigh it
Find out the weight of three things people carry at your home or market (a bag of rice, a bucket of water, a crate). Compare with the guide table.
Unit 5 · Chemicals, electricity, heat and noise
Some hazards hurt you instantly. Others hurt you slowly over years. Both can be prevented.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Handle chemicals | reads labels and pictograms; stores and uses chemicals safely |
| 5.2 Use electricity safely | checks equipment before use; reports faults |
| 5.3 Work safely in heat | drinks water often; recognises heat stroke |
| 5.4 Protect hearing | wears ear protection in loud work |
Range. Caustic soda, pesticides, fuel; hand tools and machines; outdoor work. Evidence. Observation; oral questions.
Chemicals
Chemical labels use nine hazard pictograms: a black symbol in a red diamond. They include flame (burns easily), corrosion (burns skin and eyes, like caustic soda), skull and crossbones (poison), exclamation mark (irritant) and environment (harms fish and nature). A safety data sheet tells you the hazards, first aid, storage and the PPE to wear.
- Keep chemicals in their own labelled containers. Never in water bottles or food containers.
- Read the label before use.
- Wear the PPE the label says.
- Store safely, away from children, food and heat.
- Never mix chemicals unless the instructions say so.
Electricity
Electricity can cause shock, burns and fire. Check equipment and cables before use and take damaged items out of use; take extra care in wet places; use a residual current device (RCD) outdoors; only competent people should repair electrics; keep well away from overhead power lines.
Heat
Remember Water. Rest. Shade. New workers should build up gradually, because they are most at risk in their first days. Heat stroke (confusion, slurred speech, collapse) is an emergency: cool the person straight away and call for help. Your employer must provide clean drinking water.
Noise
Above about 80–85 decibels, noise damages hearing over time; employers in the UK must act at these levels. Grinders, generators and tractors are loud: wear ear protection.
Label reading
- Look at five chemical containers. Name the pictograms and what each means.
- Find the PPE and first-aid advice on each label.
- Check three electrical tools: cable, plug, switch. Tag any fault "DO NOT USE".
Chemicals at home
List the chemicals in your home (bleach, insecticide, kerosene). Are they labelled and out of children's reach? Fix one problem.
Unit 6 · Fire and emergencies
In a fire, seconds matter. Know how to raise the alarm, get out, and when (and when not) to fight it.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Prevent fire | names the fire triangle; keeps fuel and heat apart |
| 6.2 Use an extinguisher | demonstrates the PASS method (with a trained person) |
| 6.3 Respond to emergencies | raises the alarm; calls 112; follows the evacuation plan |
Range. Workshop, kitchen, farm store. Evidence. Observation in a drill.
The fire triangle
A fire needs fuel, heat and oxygen. Take one away and the fire goes out. Keep fuel (petrol, gas, wood shavings, oily rags) away from heat (flames, sparks, hot engines).
Using an extinguisher: PASS
- Pull the pin.
- Aim low, at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the handle.
- Sweep from side to side.
If you have any doubt, get out. Never let the fire come between you and the exit.
Which extinguisher for which fire? Countries use different letters for fire classes. In the USA, class C means electrical fires; in the UK and Europe, class C means gas fires. Read the label on the extinguisher: it shows pictures of the fires it can fight. Never use water on electrical or cooking-oil fires.
Emergency numbers
Dial 112. Ghana's single emergency number for police, fire and ambulance is 112, launched in 2020. The police said their older numbers 191 and 18555 still work. NADMO also lists 112 for disasters. Write 112 and your nearest fire station and clinic numbers on the wall.
Fire drill
- With your trainer, walk the escape routes and find the assembly point.
- Raise the alarm; everyone leaves calmly; the trainer counts heads.
- Practise PASS with an extinguisher (not discharged, or discharged outdoors by a trained person).
- Role-play a 112 call: who you are, where you are, what happened, how many hurt.
Home fire plan
Draw your home, mark two ways out, and agree a meeting place with your family.
Unit 7 · First aid, reporting and a tidy workplace
Quick first aid saves lives. Reporting stops it happening again. A tidy workplace prevents it in the first place.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Give basic first aid | checks the first-aid box; helps until help arrives |
| 7.2 Report accidents and near misses | fills in an accident or near-miss record |
| 7.3 Keep the workplace tidy | applies the 5S steps to a work area |
Range. Hub workshops and farm. Evidence. First-aid box check; report form; 5S before-and-after.
The first-aid box
A basic box holds: a leaflet, sterile plasters, eye pads, triangular bandages, safety pins, large and medium sterile dressings, and disposable gloves. No tablets or medicines.
When someone is hurt
- Danger: make the area safe for you first.
- Call for help: 112.
- Help using the box, if you are trained.
- Stay with them; keep them calm.
- Report it.
Take a first-aid course from the Red Cross, St John Ambulance or the Ambulance Service to learn more.
Reporting
Write down every accident and every near miss (something that could have hurt someone but didn't). Near misses warn you before someone is hurt. Your employer must report work accidents to the government within 7 days.
5S: a tidy workplace
| Step | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sort | Remove what you don't need |
| Set in order | A place for everything |
| Shine | Clean it |
| Standardise | Make it the normal way |
| Sustain | Keep it up every day |
First aid and 5S
- Check the hub's first-aid box against the list. Note what is missing.
- Fill in an accident report for a role-played injury.
- Fill in a near-miss report for something you saw this week.
- Choose one work area. Photograph it, do 5S, photograph it again.
Near-miss diary
For one week, note every near miss you see at home or work.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
| Hazard | Anything that can cause harm |
| Risk | How likely harm is, and how bad |
| PPE | Personal protective equipment |
| Hierarchy of controls | The order to control risks, best first |
| Near miss | An event that could have hurt someone but didn't |
| Pictogram | A picture on a chemical label showing the danger |
| PASS | Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep |
| 5S | Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise, Sustain |
| RCD | A safety switch that cuts power if there is a fault |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: rights and duties notes
- Unit 2: hazard hunt; risk assessment sheet
- Unit 3: PPE station checks; sign sorting
- Unit 4: lifting practice record
- Unit 5: label reading; tool check tags
- Unit 6: fire drill record
- Unit 7: first-aid box check; accident and near-miss reports; 5S photos
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
- Who pays for PPE?
- What should you do in imminent and serious danger?
- Put in order: PPE, remove the hazard, guard, training.
- What does a blue circle sign mean?
- What is the guide weight for a man lifting at waist height?
- What does the corrosion pictogram warn you about?
- What are the three sides of the fire triangle?
- What does PASS stand for?
- What is Ghana's emergency number?
- Should a first-aid box contain tablets?
- What is a near miss?
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: Ghana's Labour Act 2003, Part XV; the HSE's free guides on risk assessment and manual handling; the safety pages of any hub trade manual you are taking.
What this module does not cover: a full first-aid certificate, working at height with harnesses, confined spaces, and trade-specific safety (see each hub trade manual).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.