Course Outline
Course Outline: Safety Leadership, Change Management, Governance and
Organizational Behaviour
Module name
Safety Leadership, Change Management, Governance and
Organizational Behaviour
Module Code
SLCM 5802
NQF Level
9
Notional Hours
240
Credits
24
Contact Hours
3 hours per week
Pre-requites
None
Option(Compulsory/Elective) Compulsory
Semester Offered
2
Module Description
This module provides an integrated exploration of safety
leadership, organizational behaviour, governance, and change
management as essential components of effective occupational
health and safety (OHS) performance. It examines how
leadership styles, organizational culture, and behavioural
dynamics influence workplace safety outcomes and employee
engagement. Students will gain insight into the principles of
safety leadership, including accountability, communication,
decision-making, and the promotion of a positive safety climate.
The module further explores governance structures, regulatory
compliance, and ethical responsibilities that shape strategic
safety management within organizations. Emphasis is placed on
understanding how policies, systems, and leadership roles
interact to reinforce safe work practices and organizational
resilience. In addition, students will study change management
frameworks and strategies needed to successfully implement
safety initiatives, improve organizational culture, and drive
continuous improvement.
Through case studies, practical exercises, reflective
activities, and applied assessments, students will develop
the competencies required to lead safety improvement
initiatives, influence behaviour at all levels of an
organization, and support governance processes that align
with national legislation and international best-practice
standards. The module equips students to contribute
meaningfully to organizational transformation, safety
excellence, and sustainable performance.
Outcomes of Learning
At the end of this module, the students are expected to:
• Explain the principles of safety leadership and their
impact on organizational safety performance.
• Analyze the role of organizational behavior and
workplace culture in shaping safety outcomes.
• Evaluate governance structures and regulatory
frameworks that influence organizational safety
management.• Demonstrate an understanding of change management
theories and their application in implementing safety
improvements.
• Assess leadership styles and communication
approaches that promote employee engagement and
safe behaviors.
• Identify factors that drive organizational resistance to
change and propose strategies to overcome them.
• Apply behavioral science concepts to influence
individual and group safety behavior.
• Develop strategies for fostering a positive safety culture
and improving safety climate within organizations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of safety governance
mechanisms,
including policies, roles, and
accountability systems.
• Design a change management plan that supports
sustainable organizational transformation and enhances
OHS performance.
• Explain the principles of safety leadership and their
impact on organizational safety performance.
• Analyze the role of organizational behavior and
workplace culture in shaping safety outcomes.
• Evaluate governance structures and regulatory
frameworks that influence organizational safety
management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of change management
theories and their application in implementing safety
improvements.
Course Content
Unit 1: Foundations of Safety Leadership and
Organizational Behavior
Introduction to Safety Leadership
• Definitions and principles of safety leadership
• Leadership roles in occupational health and safety
• Traits of effective safety leaders
Organizational Behavior in the Context of Safety
• Key concepts: motivation, perception, attitudes
• Human behaviour and decision-making at work
• Individual versus group behaviour
Safety Culture and Safety Climate
• Elements of a positive safety culture
• Influences on safety behaviour
• Assessing and improving safety climate
Unit 2: Governance, Compliance, and Accountability in
OHS
Governance Principles in Occupational Safety
• Corporate governance and its relevance to OHS• Roles of boards, executives, and managers
• Accountability and oversight mechanisms
Regulatory Frameworks and Compliance
• Understanding OHS legislation and standards
• Compliance requirements and enforcement
• The role of audits, inspections, and reporting systems
Ethical and Professional Responsibilities
• Ethics in safety leadership
• Whistleblowing, transparency, and due diligence
• Integrating governance with safe work practices
Unit 3: Change Management in Safety Systems
Fundamentals of Change Management
• Definitions, concepts, and need for change
• Change management models (e.g., Lewin, Kotter,
ADKAR)
• Organizational readiness for change
Barriers and Resistance to Change
• Types of resistance (individual, group, organizational)
• Psychological and cultural barriers
• Strategies for overcoming resistance
Leading and Implementing Change
• The role of safety leaders in change processes
• Communication strategies for effective change
• Monitoring and sustaining change initiatives
Unit 4: Integrating Leadership, Behavior, and Governance
for Safety Excellence
Behavior-Based Safety and Leadership Influence
• Behaviour-based safety principles (BBS)
• Reinforcement, feedback, and coaching technique
• Influencing safe behaviour at all organizational levels
Designing Safety Improvement Strategies
• Strategic planning for safety improvement
• Aligning safety goals with organizational objectives
• Tools for performance measurement and monitoring
Building a High-Reliability and Learning Organization
• Characteristics of high-reliability organizations (HROs)
• Systems thinking and continuous improvement
• Learning from incidents, near misses, and
organizational feedback loops
Methodology
(Methods of Facilitating
Learning)
Asynchronous lectures and recorded videos
Interactive discussion forums
Reflection assignments
Virtual live sessions on Teams
Assessment Strategy
Formative assessments will contribute 40% of the final
module mark (Written Assignments)
The summative assessment will account for 60% of the
final module mark and will take the form of a research
based project.
A total mark of 50% will be required to pass this module.A student wo obtains 45% in the summative assessment will
be allowed to supplement this module.
Quality Assurance
Arrangements
The module will be quality assured as follows:
• Rubric-based grading and clear criteria
• Peer review and feedback
• Moderation and standardisation of assessments
• Student feedback on assessments
• Turnitin integration for plagiarism detection
Student Support and Learning
Resources
Prescribed
Learning
Resources
Reason, J. (1997). Managing the Risks of
Organizational Accidents. Ashgate
Publishing.
Cooper, D. (2019). Safety Leadership:
Applying Leadership Principles to Improve
Safety Performance. BSMS.
Recommended
Learning
Resources
Schein, E. H. (2017). Organizational
Culture and Leadership (5th ed.). Wiley.
Cooper, M. D. (2001). Improving Safety
Culture: A Practical Guide. Wiley
Blackwell.
Cameron, E., & Green, M. (2015). Making
Sense of Change Management (4th ed.).
Kogan Page