Course Title: Toxicology and Epidemiology
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Toxicology and Epidemiology
Credit Points: 12.00
Course Coordinator: Tarah Hagen
Course Coordinator Phone: 9925 0273
Course Coordinator Email: tarah.hagen@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 8.8.59
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
You are expected to have successfully completed courses with knowledge equivalent to that assessed in
- PUBH1361Principles and Practice of Work Health and Safety,
- PUBH1384Critical Thinking and Decision Making and
- ENVI1020 Work Health and Safety Legal Systems
Course Description
This course aims to provide you with advanced knowledge and skills of chemical hazards in the workplace, and the toxicology of those chemicals interacting with humans including the epidemiology in identifying disease outcomes. The course also aims to provide you with advanced knowledge of and skills in the risk assessment processes associated with these hazards so that you are able to discuss appropriate control measures.
On completion of this course, you should have practical capabilities to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the chemicals in the workplace environment.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course will assist you in developing the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
1.1 You will demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of the OHS Body of Knowledge allowing you to reflect critically on OHS theory and professional practice.
2.1 You will have skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise OHS information, problems, concepts and theories.
2.2 You will have skills to generate OHS solutions and evaluate their effectiveness
3.1 You will be able to apply knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in OHS professional practice.
4.1 You will have communication and research skills to interpret OHS issues and justify OHS decisions for specialist and non-specialist audiences.
On successful completion of this course you will be able to fulfill the requirements of the following course learning outcomes (CLOs):
- Recognise the causes of known occupational diseases related to chemical exposure and be able to discuss their toxicological causes.
- Locate, evaluate, interpret and provide verbal and written occupational health and safety information with respect to chemicals appropriate to the workplace
- Collect, analyse and use workplace data in a systematic way with appropriate attention to ethical, legal and confidentiality requirements
- Assess workplace management systems and apply sound management practices to all aspects of the occupational health and safety functions
Overview of Learning Activities
This course is provided in mixed mode with lectures and practical classes provided at the beginning of the semester, followed by on-line real time tutorials to further explore the issues raised in the block lectures.
- Lectures
- Presentations and group discussions
- Laboratory-based practical exercises; and
- Independent study
Total Study hours
A total of 120 hours of study is expected during this course, comprising:
Teacher-guided activities: lectures and practical classes
Student-directed activities: You are expected to study independently managing your own learning progress.
Overview of Learning Resources
Course materials are available through RMIT's online systems (Canvas).
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment consists of:
- Interpretation of SDS (10%): This assessment supports CLOs 1 & 2
- Hazard Assessment of a chemical (30%): This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, & 4
- Risk Assessment and Communication (30%): This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, & 4
- Exam (theory and problem solving) (30%): This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, & 4
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.