This unit has been designed to assist you to develop the skills
required to help manage occupational safety and health risks. To achieve this outcome we will use the
structure provided by the International Standard of Risk Management, which is usually known by its
reference number ‘ISO 31000’. You will develop the skills needed to assess a workplace for occupational
safety and health risks using a variety of tools, formulate priorities and devise practical solutions to enhance
workplace occupational safety and health.
Acknowledgement of Country
I would like to pay my respects to the traditional custodians of the land upon which our University campus
stands and their connection with this land. I acknowledge and offer my respects to the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Elders and people for their care of the land through their communities and culture, which we
have the fortune of enjoying.
Learning outcomes
In this unit, you will learn to:
- Apply the risk management process to a workplace of your choice;
- Design and complete an incident report;
- Describe the incident investigation process;
- Analyse and effective communicate occupational safety and health data to key stakeholder; and
- Critically evaluate risk identification tools.
Graduate attributes
Graduate attributes help to build your capacity to engage in professional practice, and become a lifelong
learner when you graduate.
In this unit you will develop your:
Ability to communicate
Ability to work in teams
Critical appraisal skills
Ability to generate ideas
Cross-cultural and international outlook
English language proficiency
To assist our students to graduate with competent levels of English language proficiency, ECU has developed
an ELP Strategy (English Language Proficiency). This strategy focuses on supporting you with development of
your written English skills while studying at ECU, to enhance your professionalism and employability when
you graduate.
The ELP Measure is an assessment of your written English skills, to ensure you receive feedback on your
written English language proficiency at various stages in your course. You will receive feedback on your ELP
HST 2145: Risk Assessment Semester 1, 2016
when you submit an ECU Assignment Cover Sheet with your assessments. Page 2 of this cover sheet has an
ELP marking guide, designed to give you an indication of your skill development.
If you would like assistance with improving your English language skills, please contact a Learning Adviser or
visit Blackboard > Communities > FHES Academic Skills Centre.
Teaching and learning
The teaching and learning approach used in this unit is designed for both online and on campus teaching.
The intention is to ensure that you have a rich and engaging learning experience with either an online or on
campus enrolment. The unit learning materials incorporate both online and on campus resources to
encourage engagement and independent learning. For example, students enrolled online will be provided
with recordings of the lectures and on campus students will be provided with the written version of the unit.
Online students are also invited to any of the on campus lectures and tutorials. All students will have the
opportunity to interact in one online community (i.e. Blackboard).
You should use the suggested readings and other resources to assist you to develop your understanding of
the content. You will also need to draw upon your own knowledge, opinions and discussions with other
students.
Learning materials for this unit are available on the Blackboard site for this unit, under the Learning Modules
link (written hereafter as Blackboard > Learning Modules). Each folder contains instructions and resources
to assist you with your studies, including: recorded lectures; links to external websites; suggested readings,
articles and other resources; activities and topics for discussion and collaboration with other students.
The unit is divided into modules, and usually one module is taught per week. You can progress through the
learning modules at your own pace, but it is important that you use the Study Schedule to assist you with
staying on-track with your learning this semester. To assist you with planning your time, please consider the
following:
- This unit will require a study commitment from you of approximately 10 hours per week;
- Use the Study Schedule to guide your progress through the learning activities and assessment tasks
this semester;
- Check your ECU student email regularly;
- Stay in touch with others in the Unit, via Blackboard > Discussion Board;
- Plan ‘rigid’ study times in your weekly schedule and consider allocating separate times for reading,
learning activities, assignment research and discussion.
Contacting your lecturer
Communication
Your lecturer’s contact details are available on the front page of this document and on Blackboard > Staff
Contacts. Please refer to ‘email protocols and expectations’ to guide your communication with your lecturer.
HST 2145: Risk Assessment Semester 1, 2016
Questions of a personal nature, such as notification of illness, sharing personal learning requirements or
issues, should be emailed to your lecturer, from your ECU student email account. All other questions should
be posted on Blackboard > Discussion Board.
Online discussion
You are encouraged to participate in online discussions regularly (at least once a week), via Blackboard >
Discussion Board. Networking with your fellow students, asking questions to clarifying understanding,
responding to questions asked by others, debating different perspectives and sharing articles or other
information you discover throughout your studies, is an integral part of the learning process.
Tutorials using ‘Adobe Connect’
This unit has ‘live’ tutorial sessions where you can ask questions and discuss your ideas in real-time. These
sessions will use the ‘Adobe Connect’ system which is freely available to you. There is a ‘Quick Guide’
available on the ECU intranet by searching “Adobe Connect” or using this link
http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/652411/QuickStart_Participants.pdf
. The dates and
times for the sessions are detailed below. To participate in these tutorials you will need a headset with
microphone, preferably with a USB connection, plus a reliable Internet connection. We recommend testing
your headphones and microphone before an Adobe Connect session starts, as you may need to adjust some
settings on your computer. I
Email protocol
At ECU we only communicate with you via your ECU student email account. Please make sure you check this
email account regularly (i.e. at least once a week) or consider forwarding your student emails to an account
you access regularly. If you wish to email your Lecturer, you must use your ECU student email account, as
anti-spam filters may prevent emails from other accounts being delivered to your lecturer.
Please ensure your message contains the following:
- A subject that contains the unit code, and identifies the nature of your query or request.
- Any previous messages, if your email is part of an ongoing email exchange.
- Address your lecturer professionally, by name and title.
- Use concise and polite language.
- Insert a signature at the end of your email that contains:
- your name in full as it appears in SIMO;
- your student number;
- the campus you attend, or indicate if you are an off-campus student.
While lecturers cannot be available online all day, in normal circumstance your lecturer will reply within two
working days.
HST 2145: Risk Assessment Semester 1, 2016
Communication expectations
Please ensure your communications follow these guidelines:
Be polite and respectful to others;
Use correct spelling and grammar;
Do not write using capital letters (this can be interpreted as SHOUTING);
Avoid exotic fonts or colours;
Be concise;
Support independent ideas and different perspectives;
Avoid responding when you are feeling angry;
Be careful not to disclose personal contact details in class discussion forums; and
Create some discussion and respond to others.
There is no mandatory text book for this unit.
Suggested readings
Readings
Resources will be available within each learning module on Blackboard > Learning Modules. In addition, the
ECU library holds a large range of books and journals on this subject. You may wish to view the
ECU Library’s
OSH Subject Guide for additional library materials available to assist you with your studies.
Archer, R., Borthwick, K., Travers, M., & Ruschena, L. (2012). WHS: A Management Guide. (3rd Edn.) South
Melbourne: Cengage Learning Australia.
Safe Work Australia. (2012). Compendium of Workers; Compensation Statistics, Australia 2009-10. Canberra:
Safe Work Australia.
Safe Work Australia. (2012). The Cost of Work-Related Injury and Illness for Australian Employers, Workers
and the Community 2008-2009. Canberra: Safe Work Australia.
Safe Work Australia. (2011). Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks. Canberra: Safe
Work Australia.
Safe Work Australia. (2011). Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Co-operation and Co-
ordination. Canberra: Safe Work Australia.
Standards Australia. (2009). AS/NZS ISO 31000: 2009 Risk Management-Principles and Guidelines. Retrieved
from http://www.standards.org.au via Edith Cowan University library website.