Occupational Health and Safety

This course will introduce students to the principles of chemistry as they apply to physical workplace environments and processes. Topics include organic and inorganic chemicals, relative weights, gases, and chemical calculations.

Technology and Communications is a foundational course that introduces the students to business communication skills and strategies, along with basic Microsoft Office skills. Topics include composition, production and delivery of effective business reports, building presentations and public speaking, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, research skills and APA formatting, etc. The skills developed in this course will be used and enhanced throughout the remainder of the program.

This course introduces students to the wide array of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation that governs industry on a Federal and Provincial level. Topics include the history and evolution of OHS legislation, the OHS requirements in Part II of the Canada Labour Code, the Alberta Act, Regulations and Code, Standards associated with Legislation (CSA, ISO, WCB, among others).

This course introduces students to the basic anatomy and physiology of the organ systems involved in the main routes of entry (ROE). It also discusses how various workplace toxins can affect worker's health and how to control toxic exposures. Topics include cell, tissue and organ structure and function, the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) principles of toxic exposure, dose-response relationships, and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).

This course introduces the concepts of hazard anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control, which are the most fundamental components of Occupational Health and Safety system development. Topics include the different types of hazards, the hierarchy of controls, hazard assessments, workplace inspections, etc.

OHS Professionals can encounter various scenarios requiring ethical decision making. Students will explore the many challenges and obligations that the professional must manage, the legal and ethical consequences of errors and omissions, duly diligent behaviour, and professional codes of conduct.

Health hazards in the workplace are prevalent and cause illnesses and lost workdays each year. The practical application of occupational hygiene is important because it involves hazards identification, noise, thermal and respiratory monitoring techniques. Topics include occupational hazards that impact the human body, occupational hygiene monitoring techniques, occupational exposure limits (OEL) and best practices, controlling health hazards, hearing and respiratory fit testing.

Having an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System improves a company’s ability to continuously identify hazards and control risks in the workplace. This course introduces the historical theories in relation to modern day management systems. Students also learn the different OHSMS models, gap analysis and the importance of implementation within an organization.

This course introduces students to the organizational behaviours and leadership styles that effectively build Occupational Health and Safety cultures. Topics include how the OHS professional works within the organizational structure, various communication channels used to achieve results, differing leadership styles and the attitudes and behaviours that build successful teams.

This course builds upon knowledge and skills learned in COMM1111, and provides students the ability to develop and instruct various Occupational Health and Safety related education and training sessions. Topics include training needs assessments, training development, adult learning preferences, training tools, technology, and training evaluation.

This course is for Occupational Health and Safety students, enabling the student to calculate, interpret, and compile data into a meaningful format. Students will learn to convert raw data into typical statistical measurements, including numerical summaries, tables and charts.

OHS is a broad field, and mentorship is a component of job learning. Students will complete a 15-week Co-op Work Term with the mentorship of an OHS professional(s). In conjunction with the hours of work, the student is required to set and work toward goals, reflect on the practice of OHS through journaling, and complete assignments related to their experiences.

Using case studies, and building on foundational courses, students will examine organizational health and safety management systems to develop a plan for the revision of, or implementation of an appropriate OHS management system within an organization. Upon completion students will have developed supporting documentation that is in alignment with the vision of the organization.

In this hands-on course, students will gain practical experience in the identification and application of appropriate monitoring techniques for various occupational hazards such as indoor air quality, chemical and biological exposures. Students will operate occupational hygiene monitoring equipment, analyze results and recommend hazard controls.

Incident investigation is vital for both the reduction and prevention of worksite injuries, illnesses and near misses as well as continuing successes in safety. This course outlines the theories associated with incident causation and explores a variety of models used to investigate unplanned events and contributing factors. Facilitating an incident investigation, students will become familiar with the many stages of incident investigation from securing incident scene evidence to recommendations for corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Students will examine fire chemistry and behavior and have an opportunity to relate codes and standards to the development of an emergency response plan. Effective risk management is a critical element of business success. Students will explore the basic principles of risk identification, business continuity planning and management systems and explore the role an OHS Professional has in mitigating organizational risks. The student will also complete emergency response plans along with a hazard, risk and vulnerability analysis.

This course is for the Occupational Health and Safety Program. This course will introduce students to the principles of physics as they apply to physical workplace environments and processes. Topics include sound, hoisting and fall protection, fluids in motion, exposure and absorption rates of radiation, and lasers.

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) account for an astounding number of the WCB claims and lost-time injuries incurred annually in the workforce. As such, the OHS Professional requires the skills to identify hazards related to MSIs, evaluate their risk and recommend controls. In this course, students will explore the science of ergonomics and the interface between the worker, the work and the work environment. There is an emphasis on strategies and techniques that address the interface between human, machine, task and tools.

The practical application class provides students with experience in the use of a systematic approach to evaluate and explain safety performance in terms of strengths and weaknesses, statistical data, safety objectives, score cards, critical incidents, and critical behaviors within an organization. Using a case study, students will perform an audit to evaluate and analyze the OHS management system within an organization.

Two certainties in the OHS profession involve the need to constantly manage change, and to positively influence acceptance and buy-in to necessary OHS requirements and initiatives. The successful OHS professional is a change agent and must be skilled in the art and science of influencing and assisting organizations and people to effect such change. This course focuses on using change management theories to effectively propose and develop an implementation plan for an innovative organizational OHS change, and the use of positive influential language and communication to build trust and relationships with all related stakeholders.

The construction industry presents unique OHS challenges. Many organizations utilize contractors to supply services from renovation and maintenance work to administrative support. Students explore the roles and responsibilities of owners, contractors, and prime contractors and the key elements of industry best practices on contractor management.

While it is essential to ensure hazards are effectively controlled in the workplace, most controls will be utilized and operated by people. As such, the OHS professional must have a clear appreciation for human behavior and decision making. This course will explore human psychology as it relates to behaviors and decisions impacting occupational health and safety at the workplace. Topics such as emotion, personality, harassment, violence, motivation, and risk tolerance will be explored throughout the course.

Having a formalized system for initiating early intervention is critical; it initiates both disability claim management, disability case management, and return-to-work planning and placement. This course introduces the student to the establishment of health and medical programs for workers. Students also learn how to prepare WCB reports and develop a return-to-work plan and a wellness program based on organizational needs.