Introduction:Education and training in Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) play an important role in building global capacity and contribute to safer working conditions. The shortage of occupational health professionals, the lack of knowledge and a high number of occupational accidents and diseases stress the demand for providing further education and training in OEH. This need is especially urgent in low and middle-income countries. Three international courses on OEH provide valuable insights on how to develop successful trainings in the field and how to contribute to the creation of healthy and safe workplaces.Methodology and Results:The courses “Global Occupational and Environmental Determinants of Diseases: a multidisciplinary and multicultural approach for prevention” (University of Brescia, Italy), “Advanced International Training Course in OEH” (Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand) and “Teaching interventions crossing borders” (Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität, Munich, Germany) offer a unique networking opportunity for health professionals from low-, middle- and high-income countries. Three main characteristics of learning were identified as successful for adult learning in OEH: Interdisciplinary learning allows exchanging skills and knowledge and therefore closes gaps between the several disciplines within OEH. Experiential learning enables participants to reflect on their personal experiences, e.g. through workplace visits. Finally, active learning empowers the learner to take the leading role in the learning process using e.g. problem- or project-based learning approaches.Conclusion:Training and education in OEH should become a higher priority by including it in the standard public health and medical curricula. For this, train the trainer approaches are essential in many countries. Any OEH training should follow the interdisciplinary, experiential and interactive learning approach and should be accessible to participants from all regions.

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IntroductionIn the course of fast economic growth in Latin America, a wide range of production and services have been developed whereas the importance of occupational safety and health (OSH) in these sectors still remain at a low level. To improve this situation well-trained professionals are necessary. Finding a lack of local training we established an education program for OSH professionals from Latin America who might act as regional leaders in OSH training and research (train the trainer model).MethodsBased on a needs assessment, we developed a two-year blended learning Master consisting of onsite courses, project work and interactive online modules. Students receive theoretical and practical training in the assessment of working conditions, research skills and intervention strategies applying modern teaching methods and an international framework.ResultsSince 2012, 91 OSH experts from 13 Latin American countries started the Master, 43 of them already graduated. After completing the program, over 80% of the graduates rate their knowledge in the OSH-fields taught in the Master as (very) high – compared to only one third before starting the program. Almost all graduates transfer this knowledge to their professional practice – even two years after completing the master. Today the graduates act as multipliers of OSH in their home countries by teaching at local universities, holding responsible positions and forming an international network. Over 70% of the former participants are still in contact at least once per month, realising further research projects, training courses, interventions and scientific publications.DiscussionAccording to the results, blended learning combined with modern teaching techniques and project work seems to be a successful approach for training in OSH. The participants get empowered to jointly organise own research and learning courses even after finishing the studies. This train the trainer concept might contribute to face OSH challenges in Latin America.