Unit rationale, description and aim
Knowledge of specific physical hazards encountered in workplaces as well as skills in determining associated risk exposure and harm reduction, are critical components of OHSE professional practice and their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society. In this unit students will learn how exposure to hazards such as noise, thermal comfort, hazardous chemicals, confined spaces, infectious agents, asbestos, electricity, plant, and hazardous wastes may impact workers' and others' health, and the environment. Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills in interpreting or using hazard specific risk assessment tools and methods and applying national and international hazard specific legislation and standards to workplace scenarios. This unit aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge, understanding and applied skills in risk management for specific workplace hazards using an evidence-base so they can apply best OHSE practice in a professional manner.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Evaluate specific physical hazards encountered in ...
Learning Outcome 01
Use OHSE hazard specific tools and methods to dete...
Learning Outcome 02
Critique basic interventions and strategies to con...
Learning Outcome 03
Recommend control measures to peers and key workpl...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- A model of OHSE risk management
- Risk management and the common good
- Risk management: thermal comfort
- Risk management: hazardous chemicals
- Risk management: confined spaces
- Risk management: infectious agents
- Risk management: asbestos
- Risk management: electricity
- Risk management: airborne contaminants
- Risk management: environmental conformance
- Risk management: waste management
- Risk management: noise
- Risk management: plant/mobile plant
Assessment strategy and rationale
Three assessment items are required in this Unit. The first, based around online discussion of weeks 1 to 6 content, requires students to combine their own views and experiences with research from the academic literature. It also requires students to consider and respond to views expressed or questions posed by other students. The second is an academic report and requires students to demonstrate their ability to use research skills and to write an academic paper, drawing on the content and models covered in this unit. The third, based around online discussion of weeks 7 to 12 content, requires students to combine their own views and experiences with research from the academic literature. It also requires students to consider and respond to views expressed or questions posed by other students.
In order to pass this unit, you are required to achieve an overall mark of at least 50% and must make an attempt at all three assessment items.
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of each learning outcome.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Online Discussion This assess...
Assessment Task 1: Online Discussion
This assessment task consists of a 1250 -word submission entailing six posts curated from the Discussion Forum related to weeks 1 to 6 of the Unit content in line with the ACU Online 10 week asynchronous delivery mode. This task requires students to apply informed decision making when discussing their recommended solutions with their peers on the management of OHSE risk exposure and with reference to academic literature. Their ability to critically discuss interventions, control strategies and legislative requirements will also be assessed.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Discussion Forum activity
Artefact: Written posts from Discussion Forum
25%
Assessment Task 2: Risk Management Report This as...
Assessment Task 2: Risk Management Report
This assessment task requires students to draw on their evaluation and analytical skills to develop a 1700 written report. It provides students with the opportunity to choose a particular physical hazard in a workplace to critically review, to use hazard specific methods to determine risk, and to recommend control measures to workplace stakeholders. This report, which can be based on the students own workplace requires students to critique the available risk analysis methodologies relating to the same and describe basic interventions to control the risk.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Report
Artefact: Written report
40%
Assessment Task 3: Online Discussion This assessm...
Assessment Task 3: Online Discussion
This assessment task consists of a 1250-word submission entailing six posts curated from the Discussion Forum. The task requires students to discuss and interpret specific OHSE hazards, from weeks 7 to 12 of the unit content, or in line with the ACU Online 10 week asynchronous delivery mode, with their peers and with reference to academic literature. The ability to critically discuss interventions, control strategies and legislative requirements will also be assessed.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Discussion Forum Activity
Artefact: Written posts from Discussion Forum
35%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This Unit employs a learning and teaching strategy that combines active learning (engaging with online lecture videos, reading, writing and case studies to analyse, synthesise and problem solve) and peer learning methods (engaging with peers and the lecturer via online tools to collaborate, query and elaborate). Live online classrooms will be offered at regular intervals throughout the teaching period to allow students synchronous access to their lecturer and peers at defined times or ACU Online 10 week asynchronous delivery mode. Use of applied case studies and scenarios with reference to legislation and standards as well as national and international contexts are used to facilitate applied action learning. The provision of timely student feedback is also a key aspect of the learning and teaching strategy as this allows students to direct future learning behaviours and performance in a meaningful way. The online learning environment can be challenging in terms of encouraging student interaction and participation, and the Unit’s teaching methods have been chosen because they are most likely to support the achievement of learning outcomes and participation by a geographically diverse cohort of students.
ACU Online
This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.
Representative texts and references
Recommended references:
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) 2009. Strategic environmental compliance and performance review: industry monitoring, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. This can be downloaded from NSW DECCW website, at:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/licensing/09695indmon.pdf>
ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements with guidance for use”.
Safework Australia, 2006, Work-related Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Australia. This is located at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/workrelated_infectious_parastitic_disease_australia.pdf
Safework Australia, 2011, National Hazard Worker Exposure Surveillance: Exposure to Biological Hazards and the Provision of Controls against Biological Hazards in Australian Workplaces. This is located at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/nhews_biologicalmaterials.pdf
Safe Work Australia 2016, Model managing electrical risks in the workplace code of practice, Safe Work Australia, Canberra. This can be downloaded from the Safe Work Australia website, at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1705/mcop-managing-electrical-risks_in_the_workplace-v3.pdf
Safe Work Australia 2016, Model Confined spaces code of practice, Safe Work Australia, Canberra. This can be downloaded from the Safe Work Australia website, at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1705/mcop-confined-spaces-v3.pdf
Safe Work Australia 2015, Model Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work code of practice, Safe Work Australia, Canberra. This can be downloaded from the Safe Work Australia website, at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/managing_noise_preventing_hearing_loss_work.pdf
Safe Work Australia 2016, Model managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. This code can be accessed from the Safe Work Australian website at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/managing_risks_of_hazardous_chemicals2.pdf
Safe Work Australia 2016, Model how to safety remove asbestos code of practice. This code can be accessed from the Safe Work Australian website at:
Safe Work Australia 2011, Model Code of Practice for Managing Work Environment and Facilities. This code can be accessed from the Safe Work Australia Website
Standards Australia (SA) 2001, AS/NZS 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems - specification with guidance for use, Standards Australia, Sydney.
Standards Australia (SA) 2018, AS/NZS ISO 31000 Risk management: principles and guidelines,
Standards Australia, Sydney.