Establish a Safety Science Portfolio

The purpose of this assignment is to establish a suitable storehouse for resources that support science-based safety. You are required to demonstrate appropriate use of technology for the development of a multi-medium resource (this may take the form of a blog or website, for example, but other platform options are available).

You are required to complete the following tasks:

1. Establish a personal portfolio for use during this Safety Science unit

2. Provide a personal profile and short biography

3. In 100 words or less, explain why evidence is important to a safety professional. Support your response with a minimum of two references.

4. Summarise the main points drawn from the learning material on scientific concepts. Include principles pertaining to science-based safety and ensure you objectively define terms.

5. In about 250 words, consider the information resources available to safety professionals (e.g. journal articles, industry reports, web sites, blogs, personal communication, codes of practice, Australian Standards, and items of legislation), and explain why peer reviewed journal articles are highly regarded when writing reports, proposals, guidance material, essays and general academic writing. A minimum of 3 references is required.

To submit your portfolio for marking, follow the below process:

1. Download the assessment criteria sheet for assessment item 1
2. Complete the personal details area, including directions to your portfolio
3. Upload the completed sheet into assessment item 1 submission area on Moodle

Your submission will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Level of skill demonstrated with chosen platform (1 mark)
2. Suitability of a professional profile (1 mark)
3. Written expression and depth of discussion related to the importance of evidence (2 marks)
4. Main points clearly and accurately expressed, terms are defined objectively, and principles of science-based safety appropriately identified (3 marks)
5. Written expression and depth of discussion regarding information resources available to safety professionals (2 marks)
6. Reputable sources that are referenced and consistent with Harvard Style (1 mark)

Case Study Discussion Posts

The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate that you can (1) apply scientific principles to explain the process that resulted in damage or harm, and (2) critically review the work of others. You will be presented four case studies that involve various forms of energy.

You are required to complete four tasks: 1 case study analysis and 3 peer reviews. In so doing, you will have examined each of the four case studies for four different energy forms.

1. In less than 250 words, you are required to analyse only one of the four case studies presented, using the energy-damage model.

• Identify the form of energy immediately before control was lost
• Identify preconditions that make the event possible
• Describe the hazard control failure mechanism
• Describe the point in time that relates to the damage event
• Identify the space transfer mechanism and describe the energy transference that led to damage
• Identify the assets damaged (recipients)
• Identify the damage threshold of the recipient

2. In less than 150 words, you are to critically peer review the work of 3 student submissions for the other three (3) case studies. In your response, start with positive comments to reinforce existing strengths. When offering suggestions for improvement watch your written tone of voice. Throughout ensure your response is relevant, specific and expressed in a respectful manner. You are required to:

• Identify what was done well and explain why
• Identify what could be improved and explain how

Your submission will be assessed against the following criteria:

I. One case study analysis post (5 marks)

Depth of analysis and level of accurately for the following:

• The identification of the form of energy immediately before control was lost
• The identification of preconditions that make the event possible
• The description of the hazard control failure mechanism
• The description of the point in time that relates to the damage event
• The identification of the space transfer mechanism and describe the energy transference that led to damage
• The identification of the assets damaged (recipients)
• The identification of the damage threshold of the recipient

II. Three peer review posts (5 marks per review)

Peer review is meaningful and insightful

• Depth of critique
• Strengths identified and reasons explained
• Weaknesses identified and ways to improve offered
• Expressed in a respectful manner

The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate application of evidence-informed thinking in regards to the management of a safety science problem.

This is a team assignment (up to 3 members). You can form your own teams. If you are not in a team by Monday of week 4, you will be assigned to a team.

Case Study

Whites Petroleum Company has recently acquired a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage and transfer facility that was founded in 1965. Due to past events, the managers of Whites Petroleum are aware that there is potential for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosions (BLEVEs) in this industry. As a safety consultant, you have been asked to explain why and how BLEVEs may occur and to offer intervention strategies that are practical, cost-effective, and specific to the LPG industry. The intervention you argue needs to be based on scientific principles.

Present your proposal in the form of an argumentative rationale to the company. In your response, you should include:

1. A review of the literature relating to BLEVEs, including a summary of:

• The conditions under which BLEVEs can occur

•  The chemical and physical properties of LPG

• The potential for secondary fires and explosions following a BLEVE
  

• Available risk control measures

• Evidence from research in the field

2. A discussion of the merits of various interventions

3. Your considered opinion concerning the most appropriate intervention, based on the evidence you have reviewed

4. Your recommendations for implementing your chosen intervention strategy

Length: 1500 words

Your submission will be assessed against the following criteria:

Introduction (2 marks)

• The intervention you will argue for
• The direction the proposal will follow

Analyse of BLEVEs in the LPG industry (7 marks)

• The conditions under which BLEVEs can occur
• The potential for secondary fires and explosions
• The chemical and physical properties of LPG
• Lessons learned
• Interventions (control measures) available

Discussion (8 Marks)

• Merits of various interventions
• Consideration of hierarchies of control, practicality and cost-benefit
• Your opinion based on reputable and credible evidence
• Depth of discussion

Recommendations for action (4 marks)

• Clear and to the point
• Suitable implementation (action plan) for the intervention offered

Conclusion (2 marks)

• Implications of your proposed intervention
• Includes no new information
• Draws to a logical end

References (2 marks)

• Consistent with Harvard Style (located in the unit profile)
• Contains at least 10 reputable references, 4 of which are peer reviewed journal articles

Argument is persuasive (2 marks)

• Makes logical connections between evidence, opinion and recommendations
• Written expression is concise and precise
• Format, grammar and spelling support readability

Team player participation (3 marks)

• Communication
• Commitment
• Contribution

Completion of your Safety Science Portfolio

The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate that you can evaluate and select appropriate resources for the purpose of aiding science-based safety. This assignment continues on from assessment item 1.

You are required to complete the safety science portfolio that was established for assessment item 1. You are required to complete five (5) hazard topic-pages, each covering a different form of energy. For each topic-page you are to address the following:

1. The significance of the problem (as it relates to the energy type) supported with a reference to at least one peer reviewed journal article
2. A description of underpinning science
3. Identification of hazardous situations or circumstances (e.g. industry type, occupation types, working conditions, etc.)
4. Measurement and evaluation information (e.g. measurements for energy levels, exposure limits, thresholds that inform the level or type of risk, etc.)
5. Safety strategies (e.g. regulations, codes of practice, Australian Standards and at least one peer reviewed journal article)
6. All resources are referenced. Reference list is consistent with Harvard Style
7. General layout and usability
8. Ease of information retrieval and presentation
9. Range of information resources included (e.g. text, images, tables, graphs, videos, links to external sites)
10. Depth and range of evidence presented

To submit your Portfolio for marking, follow the below process:

1. Download the assessment criteria sheet for assessment item 4
2. Complete the personal details area, including the URL to your portfolio (check that the URL will open)
3. Upload the completed sheet into assessment item 4 submission area on Moodle

Eight (8) marks are awarded to each of the five topic pages. Your submission will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Investigation into the significance of the problem is supported with evidence
2. Accuracy and depth of description of the underpinning science
3. Level of hazard identification undertaken
4. Suitability of measurement and evaluation information
5. Reputability of potential safety strategies (evidence)
6. Reference list is consistent with Harvard Style
7. General layout and usability aids navigation
8. Presentation aids ease of information retrieval
9. Range of information resources included
10. Reputability of evidence presented (i.e. sources used to inform thinking)