Overview
The emphasis in this unit is to help you make the connection between science and safety practice so that you will think scientifically to promote evidence-based practice (EPB) as a safety professional. You will be introduced to the science that explains how hazards behave, the concept of energy conversion and how hazards cause harm. Management of health and safety risk is discussed from an evidence-informed perspective. Case studies will be used to assist you in developing an appreciation of the linkages between occupational harm and fundamental theories of physics, chemistry, physiology and social sciences.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite study of 24 credit points
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 - 2018
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 Staff reflection
Assessments should be significantly restructured to better assess understanding of learning material and underpin the learning objectives for this unit.
Consultation with teaching staff should culminate in a unit change proposal for future offerings of this unit.
Feedback from Unit evaluation responses and feedback
Students appreciated the support provided by the presence of multiple staff on the teaching team for this unit.
Where possible, the unit can be strengthened by the expertise and involvement of multiple lecturers/tutors or a combination of lecturers and the coordinator.
- Describe the scientific nature of hazards.
- Explain the principles of energy conversion as it applies to health and safety risk.
- Apply scientific principles to explain occupational fatality, injury, illness and harm.
- Utilise scientific research to improve health and safety outcomes.
- Construct an argumentative rationale regarding the management of a hazard to achieve best-practice and continuous improvement, in a real world setting.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Portfolio - 10% | |||||
2 - Group Discussion - 20% | |||||
3 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
4 - Portfolio - 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 - Portfolio - 10% | ||||||||||
2 - Group Discussion - 20% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
4 - Portfolio - 40% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
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.
d.skegg@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Safety Science
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Introduce yourself in the Week One 'Introduce Yourself' forum so we know you can access the unit Moodle site.
Module/Topic
Scientific Concepts & Risk
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Energy and the Energy Damage Model
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will be looking at the various energy types, and the connection between hazards and damaging energies
Module/Topic
Physical and Mechanical Hazards
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Hazards associated with noise and vibration
Case Study Discussion Posts Due: Week 5 Monday (10 Dec 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In the lecture you will be going over the different types of radiation, their application and their effects on the human body
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will be considering biological pathogens and their effect
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will study things such as fatigue and bullying
Portfolio Part 2 Due: Week 11 Monday (28 Jan 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Recap
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
[there is no exam for this unit]
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Portfolio
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:
- Download the assessment criteria sheet for assessment item 1
- Complete the personal details area, including directions to your portfolio
- Upload the completed sheet into assessment item 1 submission area on Moodle
Week 2 Monday (12 Nov 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 4 Monday (26 Nov 2018)
Marks will be available two academic weeks after the due submission dates.
Your submission will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Level of skill demonstrated with chosen platform (1 mark)
- Suitability of a professional profile (1 mark)
- Written expression and depth of discussion related to the importance of evidence (2 marks)
- Main points clearly and accurately expressed, terms are defined objectively, and principles of science-based safety appropriately identified (3 marks)
- Written expression and depth of discussion regarding information resources available to safety professionals (2 marks)
- Reputable sources that are referenced and consistent with Harvard Style (1 mark)
- Describe the scientific nature of hazards.
- Explain the principles of energy conversion as it applies to health and safety risk.
- Apply scientific principles to explain occupational fatality, injury, illness and harm.
- Utilise scientific research to improve health and safety outcomes.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Group Discussion
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
Week 5 Monday (10 Dec 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Please post your responses in the dedicated case study discussion forum
Week 7 Saturday (31 Dec 2022)
Marks will be available two academic weeks after the due submission dates.
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
- Describe the scientific nature of hazards.
- Explain the principles of energy conversion as it applies to health and safety risk.
- Apply scientific principles to explain occupational fatality, injury, illness and harm.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
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
Week 9 Monday (14 Jan 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Monday (28 Jan 2019)
Marks will be available two weeks after the due submission dates.
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
- Describe the scientific nature of hazards.
- Explain the principles of energy conversion as it applies to health and safety risk.
- Apply scientific principles to explain occupational fatality, injury, illness and harm.
- Utilise scientific research to improve health and safety outcomes.
- Construct an argumentative rationale regarding the management of a hazard to achieve best-practice and continuous improvement, in a real world setting.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
4 Portfolio
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:
- The significance of the problem (as it relates to the energy type) supported with a reference to at least one peer reviewed journal article
- A description of underpinning science
- Identification of hazardous situations or circumstances (e.g. industry type, occupation types, working conditions, etc.)
- Measurement and evaluation information (e.g. measurements for energy levels, exposure limits, thresholds that inform the level or type of risk, etc.)
- Safety strategies (e.g. regulations, codes of practice, Australian Standards and at least one peer reviewed journal article)
- All resources are referenced. Reference list is consistent with Harvard Style
- General layout and usability
- Ease of information retrieval and presentation
- Range of information resources included (e.g. text, images, tables, graphs, videos, links to external sites)
- Depth and range of evidence presented
To submit your Portfolio for marking, follow the below process:
- Download the assessment criteria sheet for assessment item 4
- Complete the personal details area, including the URL to your portfolio (check that the URL will open)
- Upload the completed sheet into assessment item 4 submission area on Moodle
Week 11 Monday (28 Jan 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Provisional grades will be returned within 2 academic weeks of due date.
Eight (8) marks are awarded to each of the five topic pages. Your submission will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Investigation into the significance of the problem is supported with evidence
- Accuracy and depth of description of the underpinning science
- Level of hazard identification undertaken
- Suitability of measurement and evaluation information
- Reputability of potential safety strategies (evidence)
- Reference list is consistent with Harvard Style
- General layout and usability aids navigation
- Presentation aids ease of information retrieval
- Range of information resources included
- Reputability of evidence presented (i.e. sources used to inform thinking)
- Describe the scientific nature of hazards.
- Explain the principles of energy conversion as it applies to health and safety risk.
- Apply scientific principles to explain occupational fatality, injury, illness and harm.
- Utilise scientific research to improve health and safety outcomes.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- 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.