about COSHEP

The Palestinian National Center of Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Protection (COSHEP) was established in 2013 at Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU) with the support of the EU, as part of a program focused on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The center was implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Education & Higher Education.

 

Center Vision

COSHEP's vision is to embed the best practices of occupational health, safety, and environmental protection into the university culture at PPU. It aims to increase awareness and provide education and training to workers, employers, and the public to help them recognize, avoid, and prevent safety and health hazards in their workplaces. The center works under the supervision of PPU's Administration of Community Affairs and strives to build trust among workers, employers, the public, and institutions.

 

Center Message

COSHEP is committed to implementing and promoting the best practices in occupational health, safety, and environmental protection within the university and the broader community.

 

Main Objectives

  • Raising Awareness: Enhancing health and safety awareness among workers, employers, and the public.
  • Training and Education: Offering training courses and educational programs on occupational health, safety, and environmental protection.
  • Healthy Work Environment: Maintaining a healthy and safe working environment.
  • Environmental Protection: Preventing risks to the environment and the surrounding neighborhood.
  • Collaboration: Working with relevant authorities and the community to address health, safety, and environmental issues.

 

Missions and Activities

  • Training: Providing training to workers at various work locations and preparing qualified safety officers.
  • Research: Conducting research, studies, and statistics on occupational health, safety, and environmental protection.
  • Database: Maintaining a central database related to occupational health, safety, and environmental protection.
  • Environmental Consideration: Ensuring that environmental needs are considered throughout the life cycle of products, from design to disposal.

 

Trainings Offered

  • A broad selection of training courses and educational programs focused on recognizing, avoiding, and preventing safety and health hazards in workplaces.
  • Specialized training on specific issues related to occupational health, safety, and environmental protection.

 

Evaluating Work Environment

  • Measuring industrial noise, lighting levels, and the concentration of gases and dust.
  • Informing employees about hazards through various methods, including training, labels, alarms, color-coded systems, and chemical information sheets.
  • Performing workplace tests such as air sampling and ventilation assessments.
  • Posting COSHEP citations, injury and illness data, and the COSHEP poster in workplaces.

 

Stakeholders

  • Ministry of Labor (MoL)
  • Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE)
  • Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD)
  • Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Industrial Unions in Palestine

 

Center Memberships

  • National representative for Palestinian universities in safety and health.
  • National membership in safety and health initiatives in Palestine and Hebron governorate.
  • National membership in safety audits for manufacturing industries.
  • Participation in the Ministry of Education's curriculum development team for safety and health.

 

Center Labs and Workshops

  • Environmental and Engineering Hazards Testing Lab
  • First Aid Lab
  • Monitoring Systems, Fire Alarm, and Fighting Lab
  • Personal Protective Equipment Lab

 

COSHEP serves as a critical institution in promoting occupational health, safety, and environmental protection within Palestine, playing a key role in education, training, research, and collaboration with various stakeholders.