PUP250 Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PUP250 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $2,976 |
| International unit fee | $4,236 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUP250 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Nektarios Karanikas | nektarios.karanikas@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Occupational hygiene involves the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of hazards in the working environment. Workplaces contain numerous hazards which are potentially harmful to the health of workers, other occupants and the public. The role of the OHS professional is to develop and /or assist in the development of strategies to identify these potential hazards, evaluate the risk they pose to persons and recommend measures to control the risks involved.
Throughout the unit, you are introduced to the identification, monitoring, evaluation and control of a variety of hazards within the workplace.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Anticipate and determine workplace physical, biological and chemical hazards
- Determine how occupational hygiene hazards may adversely affect the health, safety, wellbeing and performance of workers
- Critically evaluate research and studies on occupational hygiene, including hazard/risk identification, monitoring and control, and synthesise knowledge to inform decision-making
- Interpret monitoring data to assess exposure
- Communicate recommendations on monitoring and sustainable control methods for a range of physical, biological and chemical hazards within the workplace
Content
Major topics covered include workplace hazard assessment and control; interpretation of occupational hygiene data; workplace exposure standards; management of dust, metals, fibres, gasses and vapours; noise; thermal environment; ionising and non-ionising radiation, lighting and indoor air quality.
Learning Approaches
To maximise engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of lectures (face-to-face for internal students and live streamed for online students) and online sessions are used. Lectures and online sessions are recorded to enable flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments.
You are expected to undertake self-directed learning and should pace your studies in line with the schedule provided on the online platform. Each week's session has links to a range of readings/resources that expand on the material in the study module and are in addition to the resources listed below.
Active participation and discussion in the taught sessions is strongly encouraged to allow for the exchange of ideas between staff and peers and to expand upon the theory and knowledge undertaken within the study modules.
The unit hosts guest lecturers from the industry and features an optional field visit during which occupational hygiene specialists demonstrate a range of measurement instruments available for monitoring various chemical/physical hazards.
You will have access to various resources, including the Student Success Group and Library. Class consultations with the unit coordinator and formative and summative feedback during the course and on the assessments are offered to support your learning.
The unit embeds opportunities to demonstrate and improve industry relevant digital capabilities, including locating relevant literature and navigating data bases; sourcing, collating and critically analysing scholarly research related to OHS; communicating with peers, colleagues, community members and senior managers through digital platforms; negotiating with internal systems to access, upload and download materials, etc.
This Unit is available in both online and internal modes and all taught sessions are recorded for asynchronous access.
You will need to allocate on average 10 hours per week to successfully meet the learning outcomes in this Unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will be provided with feedback on all assessments including across the semester in the following ways:
- informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback is provided through lecture sessions, personal consultation, and engagement with on-campus discussions or during online sessions,
- formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary, unit materials or communication, peer interaction,
- direct: to students, either in written form or in consultation,
- indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment
Overview
Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes.
Each assessment type in this unit will be subject to internal /external moderation, such as cross-unit discussions and regular meetings of assessors, to ensure that marks awarded by different teaching staff are internally consistent and meet appropriate academic standards.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Online Discussion Post
You will introduce yourself in the class and briefly describe occupational hygiene hazards and their main health effects in a specific work setting.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Workplace-based report
In your role as an OHS professional, you are tasked to identify and report on the two most important occupational hygiene hazards in a specific workplace. Apart from including and critically evaluating credible sources, you report must provide relevant evidence (e.g., photos of the hazards/sources, company records) and feedback from the manager of the particular workplace or an OHS professional.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Problem solving presentation
In your role as an OHS advisor, you received a report from an occupational hygienist. The report includes results from the monitoring of a specific hazard. Management asked you to process/analyse the data and prepare a pre-recorded presentation to inform them about the findings, the degree of compliance against standards and recommended risk controls matching the specific work context. Management also requires that you explain and provide evidence of your approach to generate the information above.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Reed, Pisaniello & Benke (2019). Principles of Occupational Health & Hygiene: An Introduction, 3rd ed., Allen & Uniwin: Crows Nest, NSW, AU
Other
Supplementary material will be provided on the Learning Management System and during the taught sessions for the topics to be covered per week.
Risk Assessment Statement
Assessments for this unit will involve substantial computer-based work. Students should ensure that workstations are adjusted in accordance with these guidelines and that regular rest breaks are taken.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU65 Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
- Apply advanced theoretical and technical knowledge and skills to current and emerging issues and opportunities in occupational health and safety promotion and management.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Apply critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and technical skills and incorporate diverse perspectives to evaluate and generate sustainable solutions to complex problems in occupational health and safety.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Interpret and tailor written and oral communication styles and strategies to inform diverse audiences about complex knowledge and ideas in occupational health and safety.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Work independently or within teams with integrity, ethicality, objectivity and impartiality to plan, manage and complete projects and disseminate knowledge within a culturally safe and socially inclusive environment.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report
PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Online
| Unit code: | PUP250 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
Occupational hygiene involves the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of hazards in the working environment. Workplaces contain numerous hazards which are potentially harmful to the health of workers, other occupants and the public. The role of the OHS professional is to develop and /or assist in the development of strategies to identify these potential hazards, evaluate the risk they pose to persons and recommend measures to control the risks involved.
Throughout the unit, you are introduced to the identification, monitoring, evaluation and control of a variety of hazards within the workplace.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Anticipate and determine workplace physical, biological and chemical hazards
- Determine how occupational hygiene hazards may adversely affect the health, safety, wellbeing and performance of workers
- Critically evaluate research and studies on occupational hygiene, including hazard/risk identification, monitoring and control, and synthesise knowledge to inform decision-making
- Interpret monitoring data to assess exposure
- Communicate recommendations on monitoring and sustainable control methods for a range of physical, biological and chemical hazards within the workplace
Content
Major topics covered include workplace hazard assessment and control; interpretation of occupational hygiene data; workplace exposure standards; management of dust, metals, fibres, gasses and vapours; noise; thermal environment; ionising and non-ionising radiation, lighting and indoor air quality.
Learning Approaches
To maximise engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of lectures (face-to-face for internal students and live streamed for online students) and online sessions are used. Lectures and online sessions are recorded to enable flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments.
You are expected to undertake self-directed learning and should pace your studies in line with the schedule provided on the online platform. Each week's session has links to a range of readings/resources that expand on the material in the study module and are in addition to the resources listed below.
Active participation and discussion in the taught sessions is strongly encouraged to allow for the exchange of ideas between staff and peers and to expand upon the theory and knowledge undertaken within the study modules.
The unit hosts guest lecturers from the industry and features an optional field visit during which occupational hygiene specialists demonstrate a range of measurement instruments available for monitoring various chemical/physical hazards.
You will have access to various resources, including the Student Success Group and Library. Class consultations with the unit coordinator and formative and summative feedback during the course and on the assessments are offered to support your learning.
The unit embeds opportunities to demonstrate and improve industry relevant digital capabilities, including locating relevant literature and navigating data bases; sourcing, collating and critically analysing scholarly research related to OHS; communicating with peers, colleagues, community members and senior managers through digital platforms; negotiating with internal systems to access, upload and download materials, etc.
This Unit is available in both online and internal modes and all taught sessions are recorded for asynchronous access.
You will need to allocate on average 10 hours per week to successfully meet the learning outcomes in this Unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will be provided with feedback on all assessments including across the semester in the following ways:
- informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback is provided through lecture sessions, personal consultation, and engagement with on-campus discussions or during online sessions,
- formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary, unit materials or communication, peer interaction,
- direct: to students, either in written form or in consultation,
- indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment
Overview
Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes.
Each assessment type in this unit will be subject to internal /external moderation, such as cross-unit discussions and regular meetings of assessors, to ensure that marks awarded by different teaching staff are internally consistent and meet appropriate academic standards.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Online Discussion Post
You will introduce yourself in the class and briefly describe occupational hygiene hazards and their main health effects in a specific work setting.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Workplace-based report
In your role as an OHS professional, you are tasked to identify and report on the two most important occupational hygiene hazards in a specific workplace. Apart from including and critically evaluating credible sources, you report must provide relevant evidence (e.g., photos of the hazards/sources, company records) and feedback from the manager of the particular workplace or an OHS professional.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Problem solving presentation
In your role as an OHS advisor, you received a report from an occupational hygienist. The report includes results from the monitoring of a specific hazard. Management asked you to process/analyse the data and prepare a pre-recorded presentation to inform them about the findings, the degree of compliance against standards and recommended risk controls matching the specific work context. Management also requires that you explain and provide evidence of your approach to generate the information above.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Reed, Pisaniello & Benke (2019). Principles of Occupational Health & Hygiene: An Introduction, 3rd ed., Allen & Uniwin: Crows Nest, NSW, AU
Other
Supplementary material will be provided on the Learning Management System and during the taught sessions for the topics to be covered per week.
Risk Assessment Statement
Assessments for this unit will involve substantial computer-based work. Students should ensure that workstations are adjusted in accordance with these guidelines and that regular rest breaks are taken.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU65 Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
- Apply advanced theoretical and technical knowledge and skills to current and emerging issues and opportunities in occupational health and safety promotion and management.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Apply critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and technical skills and incorporate diverse perspectives to evaluate and generate sustainable solutions to complex problems in occupational health and safety.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Interpret and tailor written and oral communication styles and strategies to inform diverse audiences about complex knowledge and ideas in occupational health and safety.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Work independently or within teams with integrity, ethicality, objectivity and impartiality to plan, manage and complete projects and disseminate knowledge within a culturally safe and socially inclusive environment.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report
PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report - Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
Relates to: Online Discussion Post, Workplace-based report