Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Occupational Health and Safety involves the whole organisation, with particular roles attributed to employees and management, the latter bearing responsibility for the development, instigation, maintenance and control of workplace health and safety programs with a preventative emphasis. Advanced knowledge of essential elements of the Occupational Health and Safety legislative and management framework forms an important part of modern management practice.

OHS is concerned with the conditions of work, and is therefore intertwined with industrial relations practices in the workplace. The Occupational Health and Safety professional must be aware of the current legal framework for managing industrial relations, the dominant industrial relations agreements, and how these impact on Occupational Health and Safety practice.

This introductory unit will teach basic concepts in Occupational Health and Safety. Historic and present OHS law and regulations are examined, and the global and national institutional framework related to OHS management will be explored. Present OHS principles and law, as well as industrial relations principles and practice will be discussed in a range of contexts.

Aims

This unit aims to provide an introduction into the background, basic principles and application of OHS law and management, as well as industrial relations practices.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

1. Explain the importance, relevance and basic concepts of Occupational Health and Safety
2. Apply common law and statute law to Occupational Health and Safety
3. Apply OHS management principles and practice to critically evaluate workplace health and safety management
4. Interpret industrial relations principles and practice to Occupational Health and Safety issues.

Content

Major topics include an introduction into labour science, an overview of global labour related organisations and regulations, a review of OHS historical development, the development of international occupational health and safety legislation, the Australian work health and safety legislative framework, the relationship between statute law (OHS law, preventative and compensation) and common law, and the impact of industrial relations on OHS practice.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

To maximise your engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of face to face and regular technologically - supported communication, online discussion, web tools and podcasts will be used to generate a rich, social learning environment. Lectures and web conferences will be recorded to enable some flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments.

Assessment

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 (MOPP C/5.2).Assessment item no. 1 will be completed as you progress through the lectures and learning modules so your learning can be incorporated into the assessment item at key points.

Assessment name: Comprehensive Case Study
Description: You will be required to analyse and evaluate an OHS incident, and document your findings and recommendations in a report demonstrating a thorough understanding of common law and statute law/OHS law implications.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Report
Description: Occupational Health and Safety Management System Evaluation Report. You will be required to analyse and evaluate an OHS management system and write a report, demonstrating a thorough understanding of OHS law and industrial relations in relation to OHS law and management.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Text(s):
Quinlan, M., Bohle, P., Lamm, F. (2010). Managing Occupational Health and Safety (3rd ed.)..South Yarra, Vic.: Palgrave Macmillan

Risk assessment statement

Substantial computer-based work will be required. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 24-Oct-2012