Overview
Students will develop expertise in the investigation and analysis of the practical aspects of contemporary accident investigations. This will include the methods of planning and preparing for investigations, safety at the accident scene, effective investigation management, accident photography, contemporary witness interviewing techniques, the collection and preservation of evidence, the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and effective application of key theoretical accident analysis models and logic diagrams, court procedures and effective media relations.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Have your say
The subject matter overall was very interesting and directly relevant in my current role as a Federal Government Regulator. Whilst I only missed 1 or 2 lectures due to work, I loved the option to be able to go back and catch up in my free time. Blackboard Collaborate worked well the majority of the time, and was a handy tool to be able to discuss various topics in a live environment.
Keep the same format.
Feedback from Have your say
Being able to do practical work as part of the assessment was great. Putting the theoretical learning in to practice helped with understanding how everything works together and what is needed.
Keep the same theoretical/practical mix
- Explain the application of international, national and State laws related to accident investigation.
- Evaluate methods of planning, preparing for and managing complex accident investigations.
- Collect and evaluate evidence
- Evaluate and apply accident analysis models
- Reconstruct accident causation sequences using contemporary methods of reconstruction and simulation.
- Evaluate methods for managing the media regarding their reporting of accidents.
- Recognise the influence of legal professional privilege on the conduct of investigations.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Group Discussion - 20% | |||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | |||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||||
| 4 - Research | |||||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Group Discussion - 20% | ||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.perry@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction
Laws
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plan & Prepare for investigation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The accident scene
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Group Discussion 1 due 0900 28 July 2017
Module/Topic
Gathering and preserving your evidence
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mapping
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Group Discussion 2 due 0900 14 August 2017
Module/Topic
Witness Interviewing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Stakeholders & Nosey Parkers
- Media
- Legal Professional Privilege
- Reporting
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Accident Analysis for Accident Prevention
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Group Discussion 3 due 0900 4 September 2017
Portfolio Due: Week 8 Monday (4 Sept 2017) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Analysis Tools – PEEPO, Timelines and Event Trees, Bow Tie, Fishbones
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Analysis Tools – AcciMap, FTA, MORT, TapRoot
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Analysis Tools – Reason and friends
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Analysis Tools – Into the Future
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Group Discussion
Your Unit Coordinator will post three discussion questions on Moodle during the term. For each discussion question, post a thoughtful response and reply constructively to two fellow student's responses.
You will not be able to see your peer's responses until you have posted your response.
As per the study schedule
Within 3 week of posting due date
You will be assessed against your ability to:
- Explain the application of international, national and state laws related to accident investigation
- Evaluate methods for managing the media regarding the reporting of accidents
- Recognise the influence of legal professional privilege on the conduct of investigations
Clearly state and justify a position, supporting it from appropriately referenced sources.
Approximately 500 words
- Explain the application of international, national and State laws related to accident investigation.
- Evaluate methods for managing the media regarding their reporting of accidents.
- Recognise the influence of legal professional privilege on the conduct of investigations.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Portfolio
From the list of scenarios provided in Moodle, choose 1 scenario and create the scene at a location. This could be at your home, workplace or local park. Enlist the assistance of a family member, colleague or friend to act as a witness (eye witness or injured party) You are then required to create a detailed evidence and investigation management portfolio, including:
- Risk assessment before the investigation
- Contemporaneous notes
- Sketch map and a final scene map
- Scene photos
- Photo log
- Evidence log
- Witness Statement
Submit all of these items via Moodle
Week 8 Monday (4 Sept 2017) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017)
Assessment criteria will be provided during the tutorial sessions.
- Evaluate methods of planning, preparing for and managing complex accident investigations.
- Collect and evaluate evidence
- Evaluate and apply accident analysis models
- Reconstruct accident causation sequences using contemporary methods of reconstruction and simulation.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 Written Assessment
Part A (25%)
You will select two accident analysis tools from the following list :
- Acci-Map
- STAMP
- FTA (Fault Tree Analysis)
- ICAM
- Fishbone
- Bow Tie
- FRAM
- Or other analysis tool approved by the lecturer
You will select one case study from the following list and review literature available in the public domain, including regulatory reports :
- Maritime Domain – MS Herald of Free Enterprise
- Industrial Domain – Bhopal
- Rail Domain – Granville
- Aviation Domain – King Air Ghost Flight
- Road Domain – King Street Bridge Collapse (1962)
Then
- Populate the tools with the critical factors from the case study to explain, in the language of the tools, the failures which occurred in the accident.
- Evaluate how well the analytical tools enabled analysis and explanation of the accident case study.
You will then prepare a written report to explain:
- The reasons why the particular analysis tools were chosen
- The key characteristics of the tools
- The tapestry of failures which led to the case study accident, as evidenced by application of the chosen analysis tools
- The perceived strengths and weaknesses of the chosen tools in analysing the accident
· Part B (25%)
Choose one of the following case studies and use information available in the public domain to develop a Timeline, PEEPO and Event Tree for that case study.
- Maritime Domain – Exxon Valdez
- Industrial Domain – Longford
- Rail Domain – Amagasaki
- Aviation Domain – Tenerife
- Road Domain – Mont Blanc
Review/Exam Week Monday (9 Oct 2017) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)
Detailed assessment criteria will be provided during lectures.
- Evaluate methods of planning, preparing for and managing complex accident investigations.
- Collect and evaluate evidence
- Evaluate and apply accident analysis models
- Reconstruct accident causation sequences using contemporary methods of reconstruction and simulation.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
