DOSHS Safety Committee Exam
DOSHS Safety Committee Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The DOSHS Safety Committee Examination is a Kenyan assessment for people who serve on, or intend to serve on, workplace safety and health committees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 and its subsidiary legislation. It suits safety committee members and secretaries, safety officers, union safety representatives, supervisors and HR or compliance staff who need to show they understand how a committee is constituted, what it is legally expected to do, and how its members identify hazards, inspect workplaces, investigate incidents and keep records. Candidates typically include staff in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, healthcare, transport, warehousing and public institutions.
The exam is delivered as multiple-choice questions across seven areas: the legal and regulatory framework; committee composition, roles and functions; hazard identification, risk assessment and control; workplace inspections, incident investigation and reporting; occupational health, hygiene and worker welfare; emergency preparedness, fire safety and first aid; and training, communication and records. Expect scenario-style items that ask you to choose the most appropriate action or the correct legal duty rather than simply recall a definition.
Preparation works best in layers. Start with the Act, the safety committee regulations and the DOSHS guidance documents, then work through risk assessment methods, inspection and investigation techniques, and emergency planning. Practise applying each concept to a realistic workplace, and confirm current administrative details with DOSHS directly.
What you'll study
About DOSHS Safety Committee Exam preparation
What is the DOSHS Safety Committee Examination actually for?
It tests whether committee members understand their legal duties and can carry out core committee work: hazard identification, risk assessment, inspections, incident investigation, emergency planning and record keeping. It is a knowledge assessment, not a licence to practise as a safety officer.
What is the exam format?
It is a multiple-choice examination. Questions are mostly applied scenarios asking for the correct duty, the best control measure, or the most appropriate committee action. Expect some items that test precise legal wording alongside practical judgement.
How many questions are there and how long do I get?
Those administrative details are set by DOSHS and can change between sittings, so confirm the current question count, duration and venue arrangements with DOSHS or the examining centre before you apply. Do not rely on numbers quoted in forums or old study notes.
What score do I need to pass, and what does it cost?
The passing score and the fee are published by DOSHS and may be revised. Check the official DOSHS website or contact the office directly for the current figures. Any specific pass mark or price you see in unofficial material should be verified before you budget or plan.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Retake arrangements, waiting periods and any additional fees are set by DOSHS. Ask about the resit policy when you register so you know the timeline. Use a failed attempt diagnostically: identify which domain cost you the most marks and rebuild that area before rebooking.
How difficult is it?
Candidates with practical committee experience usually find the applied questions manageable, while those who only memorised definitions struggle with scenario items. The legal framework and hazard control domains carry the most weight, so weakness there hurts most.
In what order should I study the seven domains?
Begin with the legal and regulatory framework, because committee composition and functions build directly on it. Then study hazard identification and risk assessment, followed by inspections and incident investigation. Finish with occupational health, emergency preparedness, and training and records, which draw on the earlier material.
What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?
Confusing the roles of the committee, the safety officer and the employer; choosing a control that protects the worker but ignores the hierarchy of controls; describing reporting duties inaccurately; and treating inspections and incident investigations as the same process. Read each scenario carefully before choosing.
How should I prepare in the final weeks?
Work through past-style scenario questions under timed conditions, then review every wrong answer against the Act and DOSHS guidance. Practise explaining committee functions aloud, and rehearse the steps of a workplace inspection and an incident investigation until the sequence is automatic.