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Course profile

Professional Practice & Emerging Issues in Occupational Health & Safety (OHSS4000)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
The Environment School

This course examines the emergence of OHS as a profession and discusses the implication of professional practice for graduates. Students will have an opportunity to reflect and discuss experiences and learnings from their industrial placements and apply this knowledge to ethics, leadership, organisational culture and industrial relations. Contemporary OHS issues such as worker demographics and globalisation of the labour market, work organisation, and fatigue will be discussed. Students will gain practical experience in developing and delivering OHS workplace training, a critical skill for the OHS graduate. In addition, students will have opportunities to prepare for life as a graduate through developing their written job application skills and interview techniques.

This course examines the emergence of OHS as a profession and discusses the implication of professional practice for graduates. Students will have an opportunity to reflect and discuss experiences and learnings from their industrial placements and apply this knowledge to ethics, leadership, organisational culture and industrial relations. Contemporary OHS issues such as globalisation of the labour market, work organisation, and emerging technologies will be discussed. Students will gain practical experience in developing and delivering OHS workplace training, a critical skill for the OHS graduate.ᅠ

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

OHSS4012

Course staff

Course coordinator

Dr Cassie Madigan

Lecturer

Dr Cassie Madigan

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

This course has four (4) contact hours weekly consisting of lectures,ᅠworkshops and case studies.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to further develop student’s OHS professional practice through the exploration of various models of practice aligned with conceptual frameworks and appropriate skills.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Apply a model of practice and conceptual framework to reflect on your personal professional practice and potential areas for professional development.

LO2.

Apply a knowledge of the future of work to identify factors contributing to poor OHS outcomes and to assess/evaluate the hazards and associated risk.

LO3.

Apply knowledge of leadership, influence, organisational culture, and ethics to OHS practice.

LO4.

Design and deliver workplace training utilising adult learning principles.

LO5.

Apply a knowledge of current workers compensation legislation and practice to assess the effectiveness of safe and sustainable return to work programs.

LO6.

Apply a conceptual framework and problem solving approach to develop recommendations to improve OHS.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Participation/ Student contribution Participation
  • Identity Verified
10%

3/09/2024 - 22/10/2024

Tutorial/ Problem Set Problem Set/s
  • Hurdle
30%

26/08/2024 5:00 pm

Presentation Workplace Training Presentation
  • Identity Verified
30%

10/09/2024 8:00 am

Essay/ Critique Emerging Issues Essay 30%

21/10/2024 5:00 pm

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Participation

  • Identity Verified
Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Participation/ Student contribution
Weight
10%
Due date

3/09/2024 - 22/10/2024

Task description

Two (2.5) marks will be allocated for participation in guest lecturers and activities. Assessable participation weeks are:

  • Week 7 
  • Week 11 
  • Week 12 
  • Week 13

Students will also be allocated one of these weeks and will be responsible for introducing and thanking the guest speakers.

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Problem Set/s

  • Hurdle
Mode
Written
Category
Tutorial/ Problem Set
Weight
30%
Due date

26/08/2024 5:00 pm

Task description

Students will be provided 4 problems addressing the topics from Week 1 to Week 5. The problem set questions will be provided on Blackboard>Assessments>Problem Sets during Week 2. The assessment item is to be completed in the problem set template provided and uploaded to Turnitin by the due date.

Hurdle requirements

ASSESSMENT HURDLE: In addition to achieving at least 49.5% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.

Submission guidelines

Submission via turnitin on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Workplace Training Presentation

  • Identity Verified
Mode
Oral, Written
Category
Presentation
Weight
30%
Due date

10/09/2024 8:00 am

Task description

There are two components to the Workplace Training Presentation:

  1. Students will prepare and submit a written training plan for their workplace oral training presentation. You are required to provide a hard copy of the training plan to the course coordinator on the 10th of September as well as uploading to Turnitin.
  2. Students are to deliver/present workplace training using Adult Learning Principles.

Submission guidelines

Submission of workplace training plan via Turnitin on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Emerging Issues Essay

Mode
Written
Category
Essay/ Critique
Weight
30%
Due date

21/10/2024 5:00 pm

Task description

Students will write a 2000 word essay that provides a discussion and commentary on how emerging technologies may impact on OHS practice now and into the future. Students must choose one emerging technology and discuss the impact on OHS practice e.g., artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, mobile devices, drones, digitalisation etc.

 

Submission guidelines

Submission via Turnitin on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Description
1 (Low Fail)

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 1% - 24.4%.</p>

2 (Fail)

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 24.5% - 44.4%.</p>

3 (Marginal Fail)

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 44.5% - 49.4%. ASSESSMENT HURDLE:�In addition to achieving at least 49.5% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.</p>

4 (Pass)

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 49.5% - 64.4%. ASSESSMENT HURDLE:�In addition to achieving at least 49.5% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.</p>

5 (Credit)

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 64.5% - 74.4%. ASSESSMENT HURDLE:�In addition to achieving at least 49.5% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.</p>

6 (Distinction)

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 74.5% - 84.4%. ASSESSMENT HURDLE:�In addition to achieving at least 49.5% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.</p>

7 (High Distinction)

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: <p>A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 84.5% - 100%. ASSESSMENT HURDLE:�In addition to achieving at least 49.5% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.</p>

Additional course grading information

ASSESSMENT HURDLE:ᅠIn addition to achieving at least 50% overall in this course, students must also obtain a mark of at least 45% in the problem sets assessment in order to pass the course.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Courses graded 1-7

 

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.

 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.

 

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.

 

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.

 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

Applications for Extensions

Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension

Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.

Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.

 

Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)

For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time. 



Artificial Intelligence Use (AI)

The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Turnitin

By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment”.

All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after five days, will receive zero.

In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Multiple weeks
Not Timetabled

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural online learning

Complete modules 1-3 to increase knowledge and skills of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, knowledges, histories, languages and achievements through education, meaningful engagement and critical reflection.

Week 2

(29 Jul - 04 Aug)

Lecture

Leadership 101 Lecture

An exploration of leadership theory and how it relates to OHS practice.

Tutorial

Leadership 101 Tutorial

Practical leadership skills development

Week 3

(05 Aug - 11 Aug)

Workshop

Practical skills for influencing

Students will practice different influence strategies utilising OHS case scenarios.

Lecture

How do I influence OHS decision-makers

An exploration of influence theory and those factors that impact on the strategic influence of the OHS professional

Week 5

(19 Aug - 25 Aug)

Lecture

Professional ethics

Students will consider the importance of ethical principles in the field of OHS.

Tutorial

Professional ethics

Students will explore ethical dilemmas through the use of OHS case studies.

Week 6

(26 Aug - 01 Sep)

Lecture

Workplace Training

Students will commence designing training programs targeted at groups of employees and based on adult learning principles.

Workshop

Workplace Training

The development and delivery of workplace training is central to OHS management. This workshop will explore adult learning principles and designing workplace OHS training.

Week 7

(02 Sep - 08 Sep)

Lecture

Digital Advances and futures in OHS

This lecture explores advances in digital safety innovation and design and solutions to improve OHS including digital platforms and solutions, automation and AI.

Lecture

Worker Fatigue

This lecture will cover topics related to fatigue as an OHS hazard including the science of sleep and work practices associated with fatigue.

Week 8

(09 Sep - 15 Sep)

Seminar

Workplace Training Presentations

Students will present their workplace training presentations

Week 9

(16 Sep - 22 Sep)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

Teaching free week

Week 10

(30 Sep - 06 Oct)

Lecture

Being a Professional

Students will reflect on what is OHS professional practice and how it applies to them.

Workshop

Emerging issue essay preparation

This workshop provides students with preparation for writing their emerging issue essay.

Week 11

(07 Oct - 13 Oct)

Lecture

Work Health and Wellbeing

The lecture will explore workplace health wellness programs, and the benefits of embedding these programs into business systems.

Lecture

Wellness in Action

Case studies based on the implementation of workplace wellness programs in industry will be presented.

Week 12

(14 Oct - 20 Oct)

Lecture

Workplace Rehabilitation

This lecture will present details on best practice models on workplace rehabilitation and return to work programs.

Week 13

(21 Oct - 27 Oct)

Workshop

Articulating your unique value proposition

this workshop facilitated by UQ careers will assist you to unpack your experiences and to articulate your unique value proposition. This will be invaluable for future employment opportunities.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.