MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
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CATEGORY
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DESCRIPTION
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Student
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Persons currently enrolled in a recognised course of study in occupational hygiene or a branch of science, engineering or medicine related to occupational hygiene That DO NOT have a first degree. The Council has full discretion over which courses will qualify for entry to the Student Member category.
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Certified Member
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Persons practising occupational hygiene may apply to be certified in terms of the criteria laid down by the Certification Board from time to time.
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Non-certified Member
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Persons engaged in occupational hygiene or with an interest in occupational hygiene.
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Honorary Member
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SAIOH Council may however, at its discretion, recognise outstanding personal achievements or contribution to occupational hygiene by means of a suitable award.
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Corporate Membership
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Open to all corporate organisations who share a similar vision to SAIOH in the development and improvement of occupational hygiene and subsequently worker health in the workplace.
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FEES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
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SAIOH Council and the PCC respectively are responsible for determining membership and certification fee structures. Council and the PCC will also set fees for other services, functions or other activities provided as required.
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Every member shall pay the Institute such subscription, fee or sum and in such a manner as shall be prescribed in the By-laws or procedures.
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Council has discretion to reduce any required fee for a member whose personal circumstances warrants financial assistance.
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The membership fees cover a 12 month period. Membership fees may be pro-rated; renewal however will be required by the first of January every year.
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Members shall remain liable for any unpaid monies to SAIOH until the amount has been paid in full.
FULL TIME STUDENT MEMBERS AND CERTIFICATION CRITERIA
Most of the tertiary education providers arrange for bulk writing of the Registered Occupational Hygiene Assistant papers at their facility during November each year.
The candidates are usually third or fourth year students preparing to enter the job market at the end of the academic year.
Many employers require applicants for Occupational Hygiene positions to be registered with SAIOH prior to employment and by sitting the assessment and attaining registration at Assistant level this mitigates the requirement.
Problems however arise where students do not gain employment immediately after leaving education and remain unemployed for a period of time. The present SAIOH systems requires them to pay the application and assessment fees, already an expensive requirement for unemployed candidates, and then on successful examination, they become liable to pay the full annual registration fees for the following year.
This situation was discussed in the Council meeting during July 2016 and the following procedure was agreed upon for full time unemployed students sitting the Assistant paper under the above circumstances:
Initial registration and assessment fees will remain at the agreed level and successful candidates will be issued with a SAIOH certification certificate.
- The Certificate will differ from a normal Assistant certificate in that it will contain the words Registered Occupational Hygiene Assistant (Student)
- The Student will not be required to pay the annual registration fees for the year after assessment on initial issuing of said certificate.
- This certificate may be use by candidates as proof of certification and successful pass of the Assistant level assessment for job procurement purposes.
- SAIOH will communicate this new registration situation to all members, education providers and associates for understanding of the criteria and reasoning for this new certification.
- Any candidate who gains employment will be required to pay pro rata annual registration fees for the rest of the year and will then be issued with a normal certified Assistant certificate to meet DoL and SANAS requirements.
- The Assistant (Student) certificate and grade will be valid for one year only after which continued registration and renewal of said membership will follow normal process and full annual fees will be required to retain certification and registration.
LIABILITY OF MEMBERS
The liability of members shall be limited to the amount of their unpaid subscription and any other amounts or penalties owing by them to the Institute.
The rights of a Member shall be personal, shall not be transferable, and shall terminate: on
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his/her death
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on his/her becoming of unsound mind,
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on his/her suspension from the Institute, or
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on his/her ceasing to be a Member
CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Any member who wishes to withdraw from the Institute shall notify the Council in writing of his intention to resign.
A member who is more than three months in arrears with his subscription shall, except by agreement of the Council, forfeit all rights of membership.
Such member may be at the discretion of the Council be re-instated on payment of such arrears subscriptions and penalties as the Council may decide.
The SAIOH Administrators will act as follows if member fees are not received on time:
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Members will be sent a reminder by January if fees haven’t been received;
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If fees have still not been received by February, then a second reminder will be sent to the member a
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By March, a final reminder will be sent to both the member
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If fees are still outstanding by 01st of April, the unpaid member status must be submitted to Council who will then make a decision concerning the suspension of membership.
DISCIPLINE AND ETHICS
Any person has the right to complain against a member of the Institute in relation to the professional conduct of such a member. All complaints must be lodged in writing on the form provided for this purpose and submitted to the SAIOH Council. Once a complaint is received, it must be presented to the SAIOH President or acting incumbent in the event of the President being unavailable, within 7 working days.
Depending on the severity of the complaint, the President may decide to appoint a person to establish an unpartisan ethics committee to investigate the matter and suggest punitive measures if needed. The disciplinary measures as set out below are to be adhered to when instituting disciplinary measures.
In the event of disciplinary action being required against any member albeit for the contravention of SAIOH’s Code of Ethics or some other offence, Council shall pass the matter to the SAIOH Ethics Committee for investigation. Once completed, the Ethics Committee must forward its findings with detailed recommendations back to Council. At its discretion, taking the Ethics Committee’s recommendations into account, Council may institute disciplinary action against the member(s) in question. For disciplinary action to be instituted a quorum must be present and the action must be supported by no less than two-thirds of the Council members present.
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Disciplinary action may comprise one or a combination of the following:
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reprimand;
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deprive such member of any or all the rights and privileges of his membership for such period as the Council may deem fit; and
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call on such member in writing to resign forthwith and if he fails to resign within 30 days, expel such member.
Further disciplinary procedures are set out in the Ethics Committee disciplinary procedures.
The Council shall, at its discretion, take disciplinary action against any member who in the opinion of the Council wilfully acts in contravention of the rules of the Institute or is guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interest or standing of the Institute. Disciplinary action must be supported by no less than two-thirds of the Council members present.
No disciplinary action shall be taken by the Council under this section until such member has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in his defence at a meeting of the Council.
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