Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

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

  Workplace Hazards

• Unit Code

  OHS6107

• Year

  2017

• Enrolment Period

  2

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  20

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  Online

• Unit Coordinator

  A/Prof Sue REED

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Description

This unit introduces students to a range of work related hazards and their potential adverse impacts on the health of workers. Students will cover a range of hazards to which an OHS professional needs to be aware. A number of tools that may be used to assess the extent of the risk of exposure to chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical and biological hazards will be covered.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

On-line delivery of modules and utilising case studies and discussion boards.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Apply risk assessment principles to assessing hazards such as electrical, gravitational, slips trips and falls, mobile and fixed plant.
2. Assess a workplace to identify potential hazards.
3. Categorise hazards according to type (biological, chemical, electrical, mechanical, physical and psychological) and decide when a hazard becomes a risk to humans, plant, organisation and/or the environment.
4. Characterise the principles of safe design which should be used when designing and analysing workplaces, practices and equipment in relation to potential impacts on people, plant and/or the environment.
5. Evaluate and propose control strategies which can be used to reduce the risk from exposures to a range of workplace hazards.
6. Evaluate the potential health impacts associated with exposures to a range of chemical, physical, mechanical and biological agents.
7. Propose which methods should be used to assess exposure to a range of workplace hazards including chemical, physical (noise, light, thermal and radiation) and biological.

Unit Content

1. Basic engineering principles of safe design.
2. Biomechanical hazards including introduction to ergonomics.
3. Chemical safety including dangerous goods and Safety Data Sheets.
4. Design and control requirements for reducing risks from mechanical, fixed plant and mobile plant.
5. Hazard as a concept.
6. Introduction to biological hazards such as viruses, bacteria, fungi.
7. Issues relating to gravitational hazards (people and things falling from heights), slips and trips and electrical hazards.
8. Physical hazard: Noise.
9. Physical hazard: Thermal.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This is an off-campus unit and therefore the majority will be via interaction on-line. Key study material and readings will be set for each topic and a threaded discussion will take place between students with the teaching staff. Teaching will centre on a problem-solving approach.

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 Board of Examiners.

Core Reading(s)

• Reed, S., Pisaniello, D., Benke, G., & Burton, K. (2013). Principles of occupational health & hygiene : an introduction (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
• Archer, R., Borthwick, K., Travers, M., & Ruschena, L. (2014). WHS : a management guide. (4 th ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning.

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