The aim of the accreditation services of Accredited Occupational Rehabilitation Specialist (AORS) is to ensure that AORSs possess the necessary qualifications and capability in performing the specified duties of Occupational Rehabilitation Management and Return-to-Work (RTW). The occupational rehabilitation specialist is expected to be experienced in the work of the occupational rehabilitation management, RTW and should have relevant knowledge.
Criteria for Initial Accreditation
Possess Diploma or above in relevant discipline*; and
Possess at least two-year full-time experience related to occupational rehabilitation management and RTW; and
Complete the OSHC’s “Workshop on Disability Management and Return-to-Work” or similar workshop / course from other institution or organization (Applicant needs to submit detail of the workshop / course for proving that its contents attain the level of OSHC’s “Workshop on Disability Management and Return-to-Work”@).
Relevant discipline includes: Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy Occupational therapy, Rehabilitation management, Occupational Safety and Health, Social science, etc.
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The Hong Kong Safety and Health Certification Scheme regards the course content of Workshop on Disability Management and Return-to-work organized by the OSHC as the standard (including admission requirements, course syllabus, duration, assessment method, trainers’ qualifications, etc.)
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The Council (OSHC) has signed the licensing agreement with the National Institute of Disability Management & Research (NIDMAR) in Canada for the training, examination and certification for Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP). This is to enhance the level of rehabilitation management in Hong Kong, so that the trained professionals obtain an internationally recognized certification. CDMP is the professional who has passed the Certification Examination for Disability Management Professional and obtain the professional qualification accredited by the International Disability Management Standards Council (IDMSC).
Criteria for Renewal
AORS Renewal:
The AORS accreditation is valid for one year.
Criteria for Renewal:
Maintain their competence by obtaining 20 CPD units per year or 40 CPD units every two years from CPD activities such as relevant seminars, conferences or completing relevant courses related to Occupational Rehabilitation.
Code of Conduct
Act professionally, accurately, genuinely and in an unbiased manner for the injured workers under the Construction and Specified Industries’ Injured Employees Return to Work Pilot Scheme (the “Pilot Scheme”).
Not represent conflicting or competing interests and forthwith to disclose to the Occupational Safety and Health Council (“the Council”) and the Pilot Scheme the existence of any relationships or any fact or matter that may influence his/her judgment.
Upon received the referred case, have an early intervention with the injured workers and provide them the rehabilitation management services specified in the Pilot Scheme.
Take actions that will promote the well-being and health of the injured workers.
Promote autonomy and give the injured workers the information and tools they need to make decisions.
Keep accurate records and retain all the information about the provision of occupational rehabilitation management services to the injured workers. Report the progress to the respective return-to-work service providers and the Council on a regular basis.
Maintain confidentiality. Not discuss with or disclose any information relating to the injured worker and the Pilot Scheme to any person other than the Council and/or the injured worker, unless authorized in writing by the Council and/or the injured worker.
Cautiously handle the relationship with the injured workers and maintain the impartiality and professionalism of the services.
Avoid any action that might harm the injured workers (including non-maleficence).
Avoid actions that would result in violation of human rights of the injured workers or discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, languages, marital and family status, or socioeconomic status.
Not offer any service to the injured workers directly or indirectly under the Pilot Scheme except the specified occupational rehabilitation services, unless authorized in writing by the Council.
Not to solicit or accept any inducement, commission, gift, any other benefit or any advantages as defined in the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance from the injured workers, and their family members, employers or any interested party or knowingly allow colleagues to do so.
Maintain professional competence through continuing professional education;
Declare any relationship or any fact or matter that may influence the accreditation of occupational rehabilitation coordinator to the Hong Kong Safety and
Health Accreditation Scheme;
Not intentionally communicate false or misleading information or conceal or withhold relevant information that may compromise the integrity of any
occupational rehabilitation coordinator accreditation process;
Not act in any way that may prejudice his/her continued accreditation as an occupational rehabilitation coordinator of the Pilot Scheme and to co-operate fully
with an enquiry in the event of any alleged breach of the codes, rules, regulations, guidance and practice notes, etc. of the Pilot Scheme;
Work independently and not claim to be an employee of the Council.
Regulatory Actions
If sufficient information shows that the Accredited OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons may have caused or contributed to the occurrence of a circumstance when regulatory action could be applied to him/her, e.g. breaching the Code of Conduct or obtaining accreditation / renewal by means of any misleading, false or fraudulent representation or statement, etc., the HKSHCS will prepare an information paper for the HKSHCS Steering Committee to review the situation and recommend whether regulatory action against the Accredited OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons should be conducted.
Regulatory actions could be one or a combination of the following: warning letter, suspension / termination of accreditation, assignment and/or specific safety training, etc.
The HKSHCS will notify the Accredited OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons of the decision of the HKSHCS Steering Committee and such decision should usually be notified within 4 weeks after the confirmation by the HKSHCS Steering Committee.
The condition to lift the regulatory action approved by the HKSHCS Steering Committee should be specified in the notification letter to the Accredited OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons. If the Accredited OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons cannot fulfil the condition for lifting the regulatory action within the specified period, the HKSHCS will recommend follow-up action for the HKSHCS Steering Committee's approval.
Provided that where the OSH Practitioners or Competent Persons have genuine reasons for being unable to comply with the regulatory action specified in the notification letter, the HKSHCS may at its discretion defer compliance by the Accredited OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons to a later date and the suspension can be lifted in the meantime.
The suspension of OSH Practitioners or Competent Persons can be lifted after fulfilling the condition(s) as set by the HKSHCS Steering Committee.
Terminated OSH Practitioners or Competent Persons can only re-apply for accreditation after a specified period to be considered and approved by the HKSHCS Steering Committee.
Once the accreditation is terminated / suspended, the OSH Practitioners or Competent Persons should be notified in writing. The HKSHCS may impose specific conditions for the termination / suspension according to the decision of the HKSHCS Steering Committee. The terminated / suspended OSH Practitioners and Competent Persons shall be removed from the Accreditation Register and Accreditation List.
If the accredited OSH Practitioners or Competent Persons have an objection to the decision of the HKSHCS Steering Committee on their suspension / termination of accreditation, the accredited OSH Practitioners or Competent Persons may appeal according to the following procedures.
Appeals
All appeal cases against decisions made by the Steering Committee should be referred to and handled by the HKSHCS.
If the complainant is still not satisfied with the outcome, appeal cases should be referred to the HKSHCS for review, the cases would be handled by the appeal panel, when necessary. The decision of the HKSHCS appeal panel is final.