Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
This course has been designed to provide students with high level skills and knowledge to develop, implement, evaluate and manage OHS Management Systems. The course also prepares students to undertake OHS related audits by evaluating and utilizing a variety of audit tools and criteria. Using a combination of underpinning theory and current practice the course will explore the various aspects of OHS management systems; including organisational theory, behaviour based safety, management system frameworks, the history of OHS management systems and future directions.
Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) began to emerge in the 1970s as a result of a number of serious industrial incidents such as Piper Alpha and Flixborough. OHSMSs provide a framework and systematic approach for the development, implementation and review of an organisation's plans and procedures for the management of OHS. Over time OHSMS theory and practice has developed through several stages and now has a strong focus on the influence that an organisation's culture and leadership style has on its OHS performance. Through a series of lectures, practicalsﾠand industry case studies, students will explore the history of OHSMS development, national and international standard frameworks on which many OHSMSs are developed, elements of effective OHSMSs, organisational theory and systems thinking, review and evaluation of OHSMS performance, performance indicators, behavioural based safety programs, and the vital role of culture and leadership. The course will also examine the unique attributes of High Reliability Organisations and the concept of resilience engineering.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
OHSS3004
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Mr Trevor Love
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The course timetable involves a 2-hour lecture and 2-hour contact each week. A number of guest speakers who are experts in their field will provide lectures and guest presentations on industry case studies.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop, implement and maintain OHS management systems and to make recommendations and influence organisational decision-makers to improve OHS performance.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the role and the limitations of occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems and OHS theories to a range of stakeholders.
LO2.
Critically analyse and apply knowledge of systems and systems thinking to develop elements of an OHS management system in accordance with relevant standards and organisational requirements.
LO3.
Develop performance indicators and explain to key stakeholders the rationale underpinning their development.
LO4.
Develop processes to monitor and evaluate the impact of business, technology and industrial factors or conditions on OHS and OHS-related decision-making, ensuring decisions are made based on accurate data.
LO5.
Make recommendations for criteria to measure OHS performance and develop processes to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of an OHS management system, including audits.
LO6.
Critically analyse and apply concepts of safety culture and the role of leaders in creating culture to develop strategies to influence the organisational culture and resultant decision-making affecting OHS.
LO7.
Motivate and lead others within a team of OHS personnel, encouraging and empowering others.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique | OHS Management Theory | 20% |
2/09/2024 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
OHS Management System Audit Report
|
25% |
21/10/2024 |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Workshop Participation
|
15% |
26/07/2024 - 18/10/2024 |
| Examination |
End of Semester Exam
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
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
OHS Management Theory
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
2/09/2024
Task description
Students will be required to develop an essay on the topic of new and emerging OHS management approaches. The assignment has a word limit of 3000 words.
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.
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.
OHS Management System Audit Report
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
21/10/2024
Task description
Students will be required to complete an audit, as a group and following established audit criteria. The assignment has a word limit of 3000 words.
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.
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.
Workshop Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
26/07/2024 - 18/10/2024
Task description
Participants will be required to attend the 12 weekly workshops and participate in the class learning activities.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
End of Semester Exam
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
Task description
End of Semester Theory Exam - content assessed from the whole semester: short answer and short essay-style questions.
Hurdle requirements
Students must pass the end of semester exam in order to pass the course. If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of intra-semester assessment and the end of semester exam and the student does NOT score a pass mark (50% or greater) in the end of semester exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (fail grade) for the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
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: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% OR A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 50% or greater and less than a pass mark (50% or greater) in the end of semester exam. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of at least 50%, and a pass mark (50% or greater) in the end of semester exam. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of at least 65%, and a pass mark (50% or greater) in the end of semester exam. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of at least 75%, and a pass mark (50% or greater) in the end of semester exam. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of at least 85%, and a pass mark (50% or greater) in the end of semester exam. |
Additional course grading information
Students must achieve a pass markﾠfor the End of Semester Examﾠin order to pass the course. If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or greater for the course based on marks from a combination of intrasemester assessment and the final End of Semester Exam assessment and the student does NOT score a pass markﾠ(50% or greater) for the End of Semester Exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for 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.
ﾠ
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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Not Timetabled |
Introduction to Organisations H5P Module introducing some basic concepts related to organisations: what is an organisation; why do we need to understand them; and viewing them through different frameworks. |
|
Not Timetabled |
OHS Drivers and Strategy H5P Modeule - What drives an organisation to manage OHS? Understanding different drivers to improve OHS in the workplace. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Learning Organisations H5P Modeul on learning organisations theory. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Auditing H5P Module introducing the use of auditing as part of continuous improvement of an OHSMS. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Safety Leadership H5P Module on safety leadership theory and practice and exploring the importance of safety leadership in achieving OHS performance. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Organisational Culture The H5P Module explores the concept of organisational culture and related theory as well as its impact on safety management. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Learning Organisations - Performance Monitoring The H5P Module will discuss the use of performance indicators in managing OHS. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Introduction to Systems Thinking & Complex Systems H5P Module that will explore the principles behind OHS management in a modern sociotechnical system. |
|
Not Timetabled |
HROs and Resilience Engineering The H5P Module will explore High Reliability Organisation (HRO) theory and Resilience Engineering theory. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Safety Differently The H5P Module will cover a range of current and emerging OHS management theories including the 'Safety Differently' theory. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Behaviour Based Safety The H5P Module will cover the theory involved with the behaviour-based safety approach to OHS management. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Management of Change and Safety in Design The H5P Module will cover the importance of management of change in OHS. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Future Directions of OHSMSs This H5P Module will cover future directions for OHS management systems and the implications of the changing work environment. |
|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Workshop |
Introduction to OHS Management Systems What is an OHS Management System (OHSMS)? History of OHSMSs. Characteristics of an OHSMS. |
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Workshop |
Management System Frameworks Workshop to explore OHSMS frameworks in detail and how to apply them to the development of an OHSMS. |
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Workshop |
Developing OHS Management Systems Workshop on developing OHS Policy and Procedures. |
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Workshop |
Audit Planning and the Audit Process Workshop on the audit process, including planning for audits and the audit steps. |
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Workshop |
Audit Evidence and Audit Reporting Second workshop on practical aspects of auditing. |
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Workshop |
Leadership and Organisational Culture Workshop on the role of safety leadership and organisational culture on OHS performance. |
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Workshop |
Learning Organisations - Performance Monitoring Workshop will look at the use of performance indicators in managing OHS. |
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Workshop |
Systems Thinking Workshop to further explore the concepts of system thinking and complex systems. |
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Workshop |
Management of OHS Case Sudies Workshop including guest speakers from industry presenting best practice case studies. |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Workshop |
Safety-I and Safety-II This workshop will explore the Safety-I and Safety-II theory developed by Erik Hollnagel and includes a guest speaker from Griffith University. |
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Workshop |
Behaviour Based Safety Programs This workshop will discuss the pros and cons of a behaviour-based safety approach to OHS management. |
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Workshop |
OHS Influence Tactics This workshop will cover different influence tactics that OHS professionals can employ to effect needed change in the workplace. |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Workshop |
Review for Exam Closing lecture and review for end of semester exam. |
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:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.