School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Science
  • Unit Code

    OHS1120
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Mrs Adelle LIEBENBERG

Description

This unit studies aspects of chemistry and physics as they relate to the protection of worker health in the workplace. This includes properties of chemicals (organic and inorganic) that impact on their use in the workplace and the general environment, and management of hazardous chemicals. Students will be introduced to the underlying science concepts that relate to the hazards in the workplace together with human physiology in relation to the impact of environmental factors on the human body. The main body systems studied include the respiratory, neurological, dermal, and musculoskeletal.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Discuss scientific concepts that relate to the interpretation of gravitational, noise, lighting and thermal hazards, in occupational and environmental health contexts.
  2. Discuss chemical safety in occupational and environmental health contexts.
  3. Investigate the impact of basic occupational and environmental exposures upon human body systems.

Unit Content

  1. Scientific rigor in occupational and environmental health.
  2. Principles of physics that relate to gravitational, noise and thermal hazards in the workplace.
  3. Chemical properties, nomenclature and classifications as they apply to chemical safety in the workplace.
  4. Properties of gases, liquids, vapours and dusts as they apply to occupational and environmental health and safety issues.
  5. Calculations related to emissions of airborne contaminants.
  6. Safety Data Sheets and dangerous goods classifications.
  7. Occupational and environmental impacts upon human body systems.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestScientific concepts that relate to the interpretation of gravitational, noise, lighting and thermal hazards10%
AssignmentChemical safety in the occupational and environmental health contexts30%
Case StudyHuman exposures to environmental factors20%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

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