1. School of Public Health University of the Witwatersrand
Gill Nelson
School of Public Health
University of the Witwatersrand
19 August 2015

2. Outline Meet the team Aims of OHSA Target audience Article categories
Original research
Review articles
Case studies
Back to Basics
Opinion Pieces
Issues in Occupational Health
People on the move
Letters to the editor
Review process
Plans for OHSA
SASOHN’s contribution

3. Meet the team Editors: Editorial Board: Name Society Affiliation
Prof. Gill Nelson
MMPA
Wits
Dr Andrew Swanepoel
SAIOH
Editorial Board:
Name
Society
Affiliation
Prof. Cas Badenhorst
SAIOH
Anglo American-SA
Prof. Johan Du Plessis
North West University
Dr Vusumuzi Nhlapho
MMPA
OMP
Prof. Jim Phillips
NIOH
Dr Spo Kgalamono
SASOM
Prof. Daan Kocks
Sefako Makgatho University
Mrs Karen Michell
SASOHN
OHS Consultant
Dr Penny Orton
DUT

4. Meet the team Others: Name Role Company Mrs Anne Van Vliet Advertising
Independent
Mrs Jenny Gent
Production
Technique Design
Mr Kevin Beaumont
Publishing
Technique (Pty) Ltd.

5. Aims of OHSA
To keep OHPs* informed about current local research, views of experts, developments in occupational health**
To provide a platform for society members (and others) to publish – novice and experienced
* OH nurses, occupational hygienists, OMPs, researchers, etc.
**medicine and hygiene

6. Target audience Occupational health doctors and industry doctors
Audiologists
Biokineticists
Industrial psychologists
Human resources personnel
Occupational safety managers
Occupational therapists
Occupational health practitioners
Academics
Health care marketers
Occupational health lawyers

7. Article categories Original research Review articles
Studies reporting original, relevant OH research with sound methodology
Review articles
A state-of- the-art review of literature that contributes to the body of knowledge on a specific topic

8. Article categories OH-related case studies Letters to the editor
unexpected associations and events
unique cases in terms of the condition/event/problem/setting/
exposure/management
cases that highlight legal or ethical issues
Letters to the editor
to provide constructive criticism and stimulate debate
relates to an article recently published in the journal

9. Article categories Back to basic papers Opinion pieces
short, succinct and informative article on a relevant practice-related occupational health, hygiene or safety topic;
primary aim of the Back to Basics article is to enhance professional practice.
Opinion pieces
an opinion article related to occupational health, hygiene or safety that is intended to engage readers and stimulate debate.
Saftey might be a workshop or report for example.

10. Article categories Issues in occupational health People on the move
Informative article related to any aspect of occupational health that does not fall obviously into one of the other categories, e.g. workshop report
People on the move
Anyone in occupational health who has done something worth bringing to our readers’ attention
Saftey might be a workshop or report for example.

11. Other items Articles of interest Sponsored pages Society pages X 4
Anything relevant to occupational health, e.g. Press releases, new legislation, announcements, prize winners
Sponsored pages
AmPath, PathCare, advertorials
Society pages X 4
Saftey might be a workshop or report for example.

12. Review process National and international reviewers
Blinded review process
MANUSCRIPT SUBMITTED ONLINE
SCAN FOR SUITABILITY
INVITE REVIEWERS (CAREFUL CONSIDERATION)
FORMAT PAPER
SEND FOR REVIEW
RECEIVE REVIEWS
COLLATE REVIEWERS COMMENTS
Block one- sometimes preceded by a query
Block two- editors scan for suitability to journal and category
Block 3- Sometimes up to 12 reviewers are approached
Accept or reject
Accept or reject

13. Review process Accept or reject COMMUNICATE OUTCOME TO THE AUTHOR
AUTHOR(S) MAKE REVISIONS
PAPER UNDERGOES THOROUGH EDITORIAL REVIEW
FORMAT FOR PUBLICATION
PUBLISH
Block 1- delays here as authors don’t necessarily read their outcomes until a week or so after receipt
Block 2- Based on the extent of the revisions, this can take anywhere between 1 -6 months
Block 3- in most cases editorial and other revisions still required- CHECK FOR ethics approval from accredited ethics board/s, language editing, OHSA guidelines followed and ref style.
Accept or reject

14. Two important points
Plagiarism DON’T even think about it, and make sure you don’t do it unintentionally Advertising OHSA needs advertisers for sustainability Send details of any potential advertisers to us
Perhaps scholar one
Ask audience to send contact details for advertorials

15. Plans for OHSA Apply for Web of Science accreditation
- currently DHET-accredited, and listed on African Index Medicus)
- list on PubMed
- generate an impact factor (IF)
2. Improve online submission process (for ease and speed)
Consider open-access options
- all content will be freely available 6 months after publication
- currently, 1 free paper per issue
4. Update authorship guidelines and other documents
Perhaps scholar one
Ask audience to send contact details for advertorials

16. SASOHN’s contribution
“Own” the Journal
Submit your research
- ensure methodology is sound
- seek statistical advice (where appropriate)
- ensure you have ethics clearance
- don’t assume it has to be quantitative research
3. Submit other types of articles (back-to-basics, case reports, letters, etc.)
- write in good English
- follow the journal guidelines, incl. style (referencing!)

17. A final word
OHSA is YOUR journal Include your society affiliation on submissions We are here to help! Website: