Overview
This unit provides an overview of occupational health and safety as a discipline. Students will trace the history and development of the discipline and develop an appreciation of the impact of the occupational environment on the health and safety of individuals. Students will examine the costs and benefits of strategies to prevent occupational injury and illness and be introduced to the different specialities within the OHS discipline.
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 3 - 2024
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 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 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 SUTE Feedback
Students reported that they liked the teaching format and found the lectures and guidance invaluable to their learning journey.
It is recommended to keep the teaching format for the next offering as students continue to enjoy the delivery of this unit which introduces them to their OHS profession.
Feedback from SUTE Feedback
Some students reported that they struggled to understand what was required for the assessments and had to reach out for more clarification.
It is recommended to provide some exemplars for students for their assessments in order to help with their understanding of the assessment requirements. It is also recommended to continue to encourage students to reach out if they are having any issues in understanding their assessment requirements.
- Trace the history and development of occupational health and safety.
- Identify the essential elements of occupational health and safety.
- Describe the impact of occupational injury and disease on individuals, organisations and society.
- Source risk management and prevention guidance material.
- Construct a reflective mind map related to occupational health and safety topics.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | |||||
2 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Communication | |||||
2 - Problem Solving | |||||
3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
4 - Information Literacy | |||||
5 - Team Work | |||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
8 - Ethical practice | |||||
9 - Social Innovation | |||||
10 - 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 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% |
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
a.raineri@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to the Unit
Chapter
All Chapter Readings are from the OHS Body of Knowledge (BoK):
Chapter 3 - The Generalist OHS Professional
Chapter 4 - Global Concepts - Work
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture
Complete Week 1 Turning Point Discussion
Module/Topic
The Extent of the OHS Problem
Chapter
Chapter 5 - Global Concepts - Safety
Chapter 6 - Global Concepts - Health
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Complete Week 2 Turning Point Discussion
Module/Topic
Humans
Chapter
Chapter 7.1 - The Human: As a biological system
Chapter 8.1 - The Human: Basic psychological principles
Chapter 8.2 - The Human: Basic principles of social interaction
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Complete Week 3 Turning Point Discussion
Module/Topic
Organisations
Chapter
Chapter 10.1 - The Organisation
Chapter 10.2.1 - Organisational Culture
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Complete Week 4 Turning Point Discussion
Module/Topic
Socio-political Context
Chapter
Chapter 9.1 - Socio-political context in Australia
Chapter 9.2 - Work Health and Safety Law in Australia
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Turning Point Discussions Due: Week 5 Monday (2 Dec 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Hazards and Risks
Chapter
Chapter 15 - Hazard as a Concept
Chapter 31.1. - Risk
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Module/Topic
Control: Prevention and Intervention
Chapter
Chapter 34.1 - Control: Prevention and Intervention
Chapter 34.2 - User-Centric Safe Design Approach to Control
Chapter 34.3 - Health and Safety in Design
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Systems
Chapter
Chapter 12.1 - Systems
Chapter 12.2 - OHS Management Systems
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Module/Topic
Models of Causation - Safety
Chapter
Chapter 32 - Models of Causation - Safety
Events and Submissions/Topic
Pre-recorded Lecture
Module/Topic
Models of Causation - Health Determinants
Chapter
Chapter 33 - Models of Causation - Health Determinates
Events and Submissions/Topic
Pre-recorded Lecture
Mind Map - OHS Professional Learning Journey Due: Week 10 Monday (20 Jan 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Introduction to OHS Practice
Chapter
Chapter 37 - Introduction to 'practice' as a concept
Chapter 39.1 - The OHS professional as a 'critical consumer' of research
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial
Module/Topic
Introduction to OHS - Unit Summary
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Live Lecture/Tutorial - Assessment help
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Students come into a unit with one understanding of the subject and - one hopes - leave with another. This assessment is therefore interested in your learning journey and the highlights, lightbulb moments or 'turning points' in your early learning about the OHS profession across the first 4 weeks of term.
In this assessment you will complete one online discussion per week for the first 4 weeks of term, via the Moodle site. Your weekly assigned readings from the OHS Body of Knowledge chapters from week 1 to week 4 will be used for your online turning point discussion. You are required to reflect and share your turning point learning experience via the Moodle site with your class cohort.
(1) Week 1 - BoK Chapters 3 and 4 - The Generalist OHS Professional and Global Concept - Work.
Discussion 1 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 1 readings on the OHS Profession and the modern-day concept of work and how it has changed across time.
(2) Week 2 - BoK Chapters 5 and 6 - Global Concept - Safety and Global Concept - Health.
Discussion 2 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 2 readings on the history and theory of Safety Science, and physical and psychological health.
(3) Week 3 - Bok Chapters - Humans - Chapters 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2.
Discussion 3 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 3 reading on humans.
(4) Week 4 - Bok Chapters - Organisations - Chapters 10.1 and 10.2.
Discussion 4 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 4 readings on organisational complexity, culture and safety performance.
Students are required to complete all four-discussion post by the end of Week 5, and it is suggested you post your discussions week by week across the first 4 weeks of term. Your weekly post should be no more than 250 words as a maximum.
There is no need to formally submit an assessment item in the Moodle site, your discussion posts will be marked by the unit coordinator directly from the discussion forums on the Moodle site. A marking matrix will be provided in the Moodle site Assessment tile.
1
Other
Week 5 Monday (2 Dec 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Two weeks following due date
Minimum mark or grade: To pass this unit students must obtain a minimum grade of 50% for all assessment tasks.
Discussion 1 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 1 readings. (10 marks)
Discussion 2 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 2 readings. (10 marks)
Discussion 3 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 3 readings. (10 marks)
Discussion 4 - Reflect on and describe your turning point learning from your week 4 readings. (10 marks)
- Trace the history and development of occupational health and safety.
- Identify the essential elements of occupational health and safety.
- Describe the impact of occupational injury and disease on individuals, organisations and society.
- Source risk management and prevention guidance material.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
This Introductory OHS unit takes you on a learning journey across the term into the profession of OHS. In this assessment you will construct a Mind Map of your key OHS learnings across the following areas of study: -
1. The history and development of the profession of occupational health and safety.
2. The essential elements of occupational health and safety.
3. The impact of occupational injury and disease (consider individuals, organisations and society).
4. The OHS Body of Knowledge as a foundational risk management and prevention guidance source for OHS professionals.
Using the term "Intro to OHS" as the central heading in your mind map, map a branch for each of the 4 topics listed and then add details about your learning in each of the branches.
Examples of Mind Maps will be provided in Moodle and a detailed marking matrix will also be provided.
Presentation Format:
You are required to prepare a ONE-page Mind Map of your key learnings under each of the 4 key branches referred to above.
Examples of Mind Maps will be given in Moodle, however, please feel free to research Mind Maps and think about how you would like to present your work.
Submission to be in PDF format.
Week 10 Monday (20 Jan 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Two weeks following due date
Minimum mark or grade: To pass this unit students must obtain a minimum grade of 50% for all assessment tasks.
When grading this submission specific attention will concentrate on the following: -
1. The history and development of the profession of occupational health and safety (10%).
2. The essential elements of occupational health and safety (10%).
3. The impact of occupational injury and disease - consider individuals, organisations and society (10%).
4. The OHS Body of Knowledge as a foundational risk management and prevention guidance source for OHS professionals (10%).
A detailed marking matrix will be provided via the Moodle site.
- Trace the history and development of occupational health and safety.
- Identify the essential elements of occupational health and safety.
- Describe the impact of occupational injury and disease on individuals, organisations and society.
- Source risk management and prevention guidance material.
- Construct a reflective mind map related to occupational health and safety topics.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
OHS professionals work in complex systems of work in what has been termed the Fifth Age of Safety or the Adaptive Age. As an early career OHS professional you are required to prepare a written paper that demonstrates your understanding of the key notions linked to OHS modern day work. You are therefore required to: -
1. Discuss your understanding of the Fifth Age of Safety / The Adaptive Age;
2. Discuss the notions of Safety-I and Safety-II including how safety is now thought to be achieved by adaptations to changing circumstances through variability in human performance; and
3. Discuss why an understanding of complex socio-technical systems is important for modern day OHS professionals.
You will need to refer to the paper by Borys, Else and Leggett (2009) titled 'The Fifth Age of Safety: The Adaptive Age' and further support your writing with a total of at least 10 references.
Word or PDF format. Length - 1500 words.
Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Two weeks following due date
Minimum mark or grade: To pass this unit students must obtain a minimum grade of 50% for all assessment tasks.
Assessment Criteria:
Ability to discuss an understanding of the 5th Age of Safety - the Adaptive Age - 30%
Ability to discuss the notions of Safety-I and Safety-II including an understanding of human performance variability which is now acknowledged as necessary for OHS - 30%
Ability to discuss the importance of a complex socio-technical systems view of OHS - 30%
Correct Use of Harvard Style Referencing - 10%
A detailed marking matrix will be available to you via the Moodle site.
- Trace the history and development of occupational health and safety.
- Identify the essential elements of occupational health and safety.
- Describe the impact of occupational injury and disease on individuals, organisations and society.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
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.