The Faculty of Public Health at Thammasat University in Thailand, in collaboration with Workplace Health Without Borders-US and OHTA approved trainers, successfully delivered a hybrid offering of the OHTA501 course on Measurement of Hazardous Substances. Led by Course Director, Tuan Nguyen, the program combined nine weekly on-line lecture sessions with in-person, hands-on equipment training, and practical workshops.
The students were from Thailand or Vietnam with more than 10 international OH professionals who volunteered as trainers. Instruction was provided on air sampling theory, exposure assessment, global OH exposure limits, toxicology, and regional OSHA regulations in Thailand and Vietnam. Case studies on hydrogen sulfide fatalities, gold extraction operations, and metal fume exposures helped participants apply concepts to real-world scenarios.
The capstone practical sessions led by Dr. Keng Been Ang of SKC-Asia and Tuan Nguyen offered students direct experience with sampling pumps, flowmeters, dust samplers, passive samplers, surface samplers, and direct-reading instruments. Students practiced sample train assembly, pump calibration, and selection of sampling media following internationally recognized sampling methods.
This hybrid model allowed trainers to combine global expertise with hands-on technical training, ensuring practitioners in the region learn both the theoretical foundation and practical skills needed to protect worker health. In addition, the OHTA on-line MCQ exam made it more accessible for students whose first language is not English.
This course strengthened the regional capacity in exposure assessment and IH/OH practice, demonstrating an effective approach for future OHTA training across Southeast Asia or other regions. Thank you to Thammasat University and WHWB for partnering with OHTA to advance OH capacity globally, particularly in underserved areas. Thank you also to the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (NIOEH) in Hanoi for providing the training facility and exceptional support. Please contact Dr. Thongchai Kanabkaew at Thammasat University about upcoming courses at thongchai.k@fph.tu.ac.th .
