P-057 Needs Assessment of Occupational Safety and Health Continuing Education in Taiwan

Introduction The International Labour Organization’s C187 advocates that countries should prioritize the education and training of occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals. However, nearly 99% of enterprises in Taiwan are small-sized (<100 workers) and are not mandated to hire OSH professionals. This study aims to examine the content and manpower allocation of OSH and to assess the current OSH continuing education. Methods The legal requirements for OSH personnel in different-sized enterprises in Taiwan were reviewed first. Then a literature review was conducted to identify existing methods and content of OSH continuing education. Results Based on Taiwanese regulations, OSH professionals are required to plan, supervise, and promote OSH management for enterprises and attend continuing education to meet legal hour requirements. However, nearly 99% of Taiwanese enterprises do not enforce mandatory OSH personnel recruitment and instead hire human resources (HR) personnel without compulsory continuing education. Moreover, the current OSH continuing education mainly focuses on knowledge related to certification exams, neglecting practical skills such as communication and regulatory application. Discussion Previous research has studied OSH education for HR personnel, and interprofessional education in local communities for health services could establish collaborative practice in OSH. It is recommended to provide interprofessional continuing education encompassing both OSH and HR to meet the needs of knowledge and skills in Taiwanese enterprises. Conclusion HR personnel are responsible for OSH in most enterprises in Taiwan but are without specialized training; on the other hand, the OSH continuing education lacks communication and legal application training. Developing interprofessional education for OSH and HR professionals is suggested.