Dubai Municipality OHS Person in Charge (OHS PIC) Course in Dubai

What is OHS PIC?

An OHS Person in Charge is the supervisor who makes sure work at a site or on a shift is carried out safely and in line with Dubai's occupational health and safety rules. The role was set up by Dubai Municipality's Health and Safety Department. The person must hold a certificate issued after an independent examination.

• Who sets the rules: Dubai Municipality defines the OHS PIC requirements.
• Who certifies: An EIAC-accredited certification body, such as TSI Quality Services, runs the exam and issues the certificate.
• Who trains: A separate training provider such as Arbrit. Certification bodies are not allowed to train the candidates they examine, which keeps the exam impartial.
• What it is not: An OHS PIC does not replace a qualified safety officer or OHS practitioner where a project needs one. The PIC is the supervisor responsible for day-to-day safe work.

Who can take the OHS PIC course?

The course is for work supervisors who are, or will be, named as the OHS Person in Charge. Every sector asks for at least 5 years of experience: 3 years in the industry and 2 years in a supervisory role.

Typical candidates include site supervisors, foremen, engineers, facility and maintenance supervisors, production supervisors and shift leaders.

OHS PIC course details

The course is 23 hours of training over three days, followed by a 1-hour examination.

What the OHS PIC course covers

The syllabus follows the Dubai Municipality scheme in six blocks. The examples change with the sector you certify in.

• Managing health and safety at work: how an OHS management system works, the supervisor's role in it, and how to measure and monitor safety performance.
• Spotting hazards and assessing risk: finding hazards on site, rating risks and choosing controls using the hierarchy of control. This is the skill tested in the practical exam.
• Law and duties: UAE federal and Dubai OHS requirements, and what employers, supervisors and workers must each do.
• Health at work: recognising occupational illnesses and work-related health risks before they cause harm.
• Safe working on the job: good practice for daily work, plus the safe and unsafe behaviours a supervisor must correct.
• When things go wrong: reporting and investigating incidents, and preparing for and responding to emergencies.

Sector focus

• Construction: work at height, scaffolding, lifting, excavation, plant and traffic on site.
• Factories: machine guarding, lockout/tagout, hazardous substances, manual handling and fire.
• Services: facility maintenance, electrical safety, slips and trips, contractors and public areas.

OHS PIC exam, pass mark and certificate validity

To pass you need 60% overall and at least 50% in the practical risk assessment. The certificate is valid for 2 years.

• Pass mark: 60% overall, with at least 50% in the practical part.
• Validity: 2 years from the date of issue.
• Renewal: before the end of year two, through a refresher of at least 8 hours delivered in one day.
• Changing sector: the certificate covers one sector only. Someone moving from services to factories, for example, must certify again for the new sector.

How to get OHS PIC certified: step by step

Most candidates get from enrolment to certificate in six steps.

• Check eligibility: confirm your sector, education and 5 years of experience (2 of them supervisory).
• Enroll with Arbrit: pick a public batch in Dubai or book on-site training for your team.
• Complete 23 hours of training: three days covering the syllabus, with practice risk assessments for your sector.
• Sit the TSI exam: a 40-minute knowledge test plus a 20-minute practical risk assessment.
• Pass: score 60% overall and at least 50% in the practical part.
• Receive your certificate: issued by TSI and valid for 2 years. Keep it on record for Dubai Municipality inspections.

Why train for OHS PIC with Arbrit

Arbrit has trained more than 15,000 professionals in the UAE and KSA since 2006 and is a recognised training partner of TSI.

• Built around the exam: every session practises the scenario-based risk assessment that makes up 40% of the marks.
• Trainers with sector experience: trainers who have worked on construction sites, in factories and in facilities management.
• On-site option: we train your supervisors at your premises and fit sessions around your shifts.
• One provider for the rest: Arbrit also delivers IOSH, LEEA, first aid and fire safety courses, so you can close other competency gaps with the same team.

Book your OHS PIC course in Dubai. Call +971 58 669 5300, WhatsApp us, or request a group quote.

How you'll train

• Training at our Dubai centre in Al Twar, or at your premises around your shifts
• Practice risk assessments for your sector, like the scenario in the TSI practical exam
• Trainers who have worked on construction sites, in factories and in facilities management