SAFE07022 2019 Occupational Hygiene Theory & Practical (Chemical & Biological Agents)

General Details

Full Title

Occupational Hygiene Theory & Practical (Chemical & Biological Agents)

Transcript Title

Occupational Hygiene Theory &

Code

SAFE07022

Attendance

70 %

Subject Area

SAFE - Safety Studies

Department

ESCI - Environmental Science

Level

07 - NFQ Level 7

Credit

05 - 05 Credits

Duration

Semester

Fee

€

Start Term

2019 - Full Academic Year 2019-20

End Term

9999 - The End of Time

Author(s)

Edel Costello, Aideen Considine, Ossian Geraghty

Programme Membership

SG_SOCCU_B07 201900 Bachelor of Science in Science in Occupational Safety and Health SG_SOCCU_H08 201900 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Science in Occupational Safety and Health SG_SOCCU_J07 201900 Level 7 Add-on Award in Science in Occupational Safety and Health SG_SOCCU_B07 201900 Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health

Description

The aim of this module is to provide the student with the knowledge and practical expertise required to assess and chemical and biological contaminants in workplace air, so that scientific data can be used to evaluate the workplace environment.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;

Identify workplace hazards of a chemical and biological nature.

Utilise knowledge of essential facts, major concepts and underlying principles in relation to occupational hygiene.

Select suitable methodologies for the monitoring of air quality and complete associated calculations for a range of chemical and biological sampling methods.

Undertake the monitoring of air quality and associated calculations for a range of chemical and biological contaminants.

Evaluate occupational air sampling data for chemical and biological exposure in the workplace.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

This module will be delivered full-time.

This will include lectures and practicals, may include site visits, augmented by independent learning and directed learning.

This approach is expected to address student learning needs.

Moodle may be used as a repository of educational resources and as a means of assessment (e.g. quizzes, uploading assignments and journals).

Module Assessment Strategies

This module is 65% Continuous Assessment and 35% Final Exam.

Practicals (50%) will be assessed throughout the Semester. Feedback using formative assessment will be ongoing via class discussions.

An individual theory CA (15%) will take place mid semester.

Final exam (35%) at end of term.

Repeat Assessments

To be arranged as per School of Science procedures and as agreed at Examination Boards.

Module Dependencies

Prerequisites

None

Incompatibles

Indicative Syllabus

Occupational air pollutant categories. The hazards of exposure to airborne pollutants.

Air sampling programmes, active, passive, personal, static. Airflow measurement. Air analysis, dusts, toxic gases, flammable gases.

Monitoring strategies, initial assessment, preliminary survey, routine survey. Air sampling pumps, categories and calibration.

Occupational air sample collection devices, passive, filters, particle counters, solid adsorbent, desorption, breakthrough, indicator tubes/papers, bubblers/impingers, sampling bags, microbial media, HSE/NIOSH/OSHA standards and protocols.

Determination of safe levels of contaminants in the atmosphere.

Occupational airborne microbial collection devices.

The use of occupational air monitoring data

Sources and characteristics of airborne particles carrying microbes.

Operation of hierarchy of controls; Personal protective equipment: selection, fitting, maintenance, education/training, causes of failure. Respirators, breathing apparatus.

Ventilation systems: local extraction ventilation, hoods, total enclosure, booths, receptors, capture. Ducting and fans. Air cleaning devices. Design criteria, balance, capture velocities, transport, flow measurement.

Nature of bioaerosol, Identify hazards i.e. Infection, Allergy, Poisoning, and examples of bacteria, Actinomycetes, and yeasts/moulds. Hazard groups of microorganisms and Biosafety Levels. Sources and activities giving rise to bioaerosol.

Coursework & Assessment Breakdown

Coursework & Continuous Assessment

65 %

End of Semester / Year Formal Exam

35 %

Coursework Assessment

	Title	Type	Form	Percent	Week	Learning Outcomes Assessed
1	Short Answer Questions	Coursework Assessment	Assessment	15 %	Week 7	1,2,3,5
2	Practical Assessments	Practical	Assessment	50 %	OnGoing	1,2,3,4,5

End of Semester / Year Assessment

	Title	Type	Form	Percent	Week	Learning Outcomes Assessed
1	Final Exam	Final Exam	Closed Book Exam	35 %	End of Semester	1,2,3,5

Full Time Mode Workload

Type	Location	Description	Hours	Frequency	Avg Workload
Lecture	Tiered Classroom	Lecture	2.5	Weekly	2.50
Practical / Laboratory	Science Laboratory	Practicals	3	Weekly	3.00

Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 5.50 Hours

Required & Recommended Book List

Required Reading
1995-03-29 Bioaerosols Handbook CRC Press
ISBN 0873716159 ISBN-13 9780873716154

This comprehensive handbook provides up-to-date knowledge and practical advice from established authorities in aerosol science. It covers the principles and practices of bioaerosol sampling, descriptions and comparisons of bioaerosol samplers, calibration methods, and assay techniques, with an emphasis on practicalities, such as which sampler to use and where it should be placed. The text also offers critiques concerning handling the samples to provide representative and meaningful assays for their viability, infectivity, and allergenicity. A wide range of microbes-viz., viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollens, and their fragments-are considered from such perspectives. Bioaerosols Handbook is divided into four parts, providing a wide-ranging reference work, as well as a practical guide on how best to sample and assay bioaerosols using current technology.

Required Reading
2005-03-24 Occupational Exposure Assessment for Air Contaminants CRC Press
ISBN 9781420032154 ISBN-13 1420032151

Over the last three decades, significant progress has been made not only in the technology of measuring air contaminants but also in the statistical descriptions of exposure distributions and exposure assessment strategies. Occupational Exposures for Air Contaminants addresses the various aspects of occupational exposure assessment for air contaminants as a coherent body of knowledge. It is the first book to explore occupational air contaminant measurement and properties, human exposure assessment, design of exposure strategies, and the statistical interpretation of exposure measurements in one comprehensive source. The book describes the process of obtaining a number that represents the value of exposure to an air contaminant and the science and technology underlying this process. It includes a discussion of sources of variability in exposures, the statistics of exposure distributions, and exposure assessment strategies for routine monitoring as well as occupational epidemiology. The book's all-inclusive exploration of the major theories and practices of occupational exposure assessment for air contaminants make this an ideal textbook for a graduate or upper-level undergraduate course on occupational exposure assessment of airborne contaminants.

Required Reading
2005-06-24 Occupational Hygiene Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN 1405106212 ISBN-13 9781405106214

Employees, employers and the government have all become very aware of the effects on health of the work environment. As a result, this subject area is rapidly developing with recent changes in legislation, sampling and measurement methods, as well as a new emphasis on the psychological impact of work, and the importance of an appropriate work-life balance. The purpose of this book is to provide a clear and concise account of the principles of occupational hygiene and, as such, it is suitable for students studying for degree courses in this subject and for the MFOM. It is also suitable for occupational physicians and nurses, to safety representatives and to trade unionists. This edition sees the introduction of nine new chapters covering recently emerged topics such as work/life balance, work organisation and pyschological issues.

Required Reading
2005 Protective Gloves for Occupational Use, Second Edition Springer Science & Business
ISBN 0849315581 ISBN-13 9780849315589

Completely updated, reflecting the continued importance of protective gloves to occupational health, this second edition of a standard-setting book provides state-of-the-art information on glove materials, the manufacture of gloves, how to perform testing of gloves, and glove performance according to standardized technical methods in vivo. The greatest benefit to the reader is the updated compilation of data on protective glove material technology, protective effects, and adverse effects. The book provides guidance on how to select gloves to prevent skin contamination from chemical and microbial exposure in the occupational environment. It gathers hard to find information into one easy-to-use resource.

Required Reading
2002 Woodshop Dust Control Taunton
ISBN 1561584991 ISBN-13 9781561584994

Woodshop Dust Control provides all the information woodworkers need to protect themselves from wood dust -- a serious health hazard. This completely revised color edition includes charts and graphics, up-to-date information on the latest products and examples of actual shop systems.

Module Resources

Non ISBN Literary Resources

Safety Health & Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, 2001.

Safety Health & Welfare at Work (Carcinogens) Regulations, 2001.

2018 Code of Practice for the Safety Health & Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, 2001.

Journal Resources

Health & Safety Review

URL Resources

www.hsa.ie

www.hse.co.uk

Other Resources

None

Additional Information

None