CQUniversity Unit Profile
OCHS11026 Introductory Occupational Health and Safety
Introductory Occupational Health and Safety
All details in this unit profile for OCHS11026 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

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

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

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

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 40%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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

Feedback

Students reported that they liked the teaching format and found the lectures and guidance invaluable to their learning journey.

Recommendation

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

Feedback

Some students reported that they struggled to understand what was required for the assessments and had to reach out for more clarification.

Recommendation

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.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Trace the history and development of occupational health and safety.
  2. Identify the essential elements of occupational health and safety.
  3. Describe the impact of occupational injury and disease on individuals, organisations and society.
  4. Source risk management and prevention guidance material.
  5. Construct a reflective mind map related to occupational health and safety topics.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

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 and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Kevin Perry Unit Coordinator
k.perry@cqu.edu.au
Aldo Raineri Unit Coordinator
a.raineri@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 04 Nov 2024

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

Week 2 Begin Date: 11 Nov 2024

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

Week 3 Begin Date: 18 Nov 2024

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 

Week 4 Begin Date: 25 Nov 2024

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

Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Dec 2024

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
Week 6 Begin Date: 09 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Hazards and Risks

Chapter

Chapter 15 - Hazard as a Concept

Chapter 31.1. - Risk

Events and Submissions/Topic

Live Lecture/Tutorial

 

Week 7 Begin Date: 16 Dec 2024

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

 

Vacation Week Begin Date: 23 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 30 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Systems

Chapter

Chapter 12.1 - Systems

Chapter 12.2 - OHS Management Systems

Events and Submissions/Topic

Live Lecture/Tutorial

 

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Models of Causation - Safety

Chapter

Chapter 32 - Models of Causation - Safety

Events and Submissions/Topic

Pre-recorded Lecture

 

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Jan 2025

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
Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Jan 2025

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

 

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Feb 2025

Module/Topic

Introduction to OHS - Unit Summary

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Live Lecture/Tutorial - Assessment help

 

Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Feb 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment - The Modern Day OHS Professional Due: Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Turning Point Discussions

Task Description

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.


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Monday (2 Dec 2024) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Two weeks following due date


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

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)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Mind Map - OHS Professional Learning Journey

Task Description

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.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Monday (20 Jan 2025) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Two weeks following due date


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

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.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment - The Modern Day OHS Professional

Task Description

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.


Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Two weeks following due date


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

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.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

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?