The WIPO Academy just launched a new self-paced online course, Intellectual Property for Safer Workplaces, developed under the WIPO Development Agenda Project on Reducing Work-related Accidents and Occupational Diseases through Innovation and Intellectual Property, to explore how IP can be part of the solution. The course addresses how innovation and IP can make workplaces safer, as an estimated 2.3 million workers die from work-related accidents and diseases annually. Registration is open until October 18, 2026.
Register for the course in English Register for the course in French
Why this course matters?
The course examines how patents, trademarks, certification marks, industrial designs and measures against unfair competition interact with workplace safety, supporting innovation, access to technical information and the identification of trusted safety products and technologies.
Participants will be introduced to three key categories of occupational safety technologies: prediction, detection and protection. The course also addresses the risks associated with counterfeit, substandard and falsified safety equipment and highlights the importance of identifying trusted safety technologies.
Learners will explore how IP interacts with safety standards and certification frameworks and how these elements can contribute to a stronger culture of safety and innovation in the workplace.
Who is this course for?
The course is designed primarily for workers and safety personnel in high-risk sectors such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and logistics, as well as policymakers, regulators and trainers in OSH- and IP-related fields. Developed within a project implemented in Cameroon, The Gambia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Tunisia, the course draws on real needs and experiences from these countries, while remaining accessible to a global audience.
The course is open to the public and requires no prior formal knowledge of IP.
What will participants learn?
Participants will learn:
- How IP supports the development, standardization and availability of OSH technologies;
- The role of patents, trademarks, certification marks and industrial designs in workplace safety;
- How safety standards and certification frameworks help identify trusted safety technologies;
- The risks associated with counterfeit, substandard and falsified safety equipment; and
- How innovation and IP can contribute to safer workplaces.
Course details:
The course is available online 24/7 through the WIPO Academy platform as an open-access, self-paced course. It takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete and is available in English and French. A WIPO Academy eCertificate is available for participants who successfully complete the course.