Occupational Health and Safety Top-Up (MSc)

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Glossary of Terms

Year 1 (90 Credits)

RequiredHP501: Occupational Health

HP501: Occupational Health

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

The course aims to provide students with information in relation to the principles and practice of occupational and environmental health and how they can be applied in a working environment.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. 1.Explain the role of occupational and environmental health in protecting the health and safety of workers and the community.
2. 2. Assess and manage health issues arising from exposure to physical, chemical, psychological and ergonomic hazards within the workplace.
3. 3. Select and evaluate available and current sources of occupational health and environmental health information to utilise in practice.
4. 4. Analyse relevant legislative requirements that influence occupational and enviromental health practice.
5. 5. Design and implement appropriate occupational health management techniques to reduce risk to tolerable levels within the organisation.
6. 6. Apply the principles of workplace health promotion.
7. 7. Synthesize knowledge of health psychology for occupational and environmental health management.

Assessments

• Written Assessment (70%)
• Continuous Assessment (30%)

Teachers

•  MARGARET BARRY 🖂
  
•  MARIE COGGINS 🖂
  
•  ENDA FRANCIS FALLON 🖂
  
•  MARGARET HODGINS 🖂
  
•  VICTORIA HOGAN 🖂
  
•  ANNE O'GRADY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "ABC of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. ." by Snashall, D. & Patel, D.
   Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
2. "Oxford Handbook of Occupational Health." by Smedley, et al.
   Publisher: Oxford University Press.
3. "Occupational Health - Pocket Consultant." by Harrington and Gill
   Publisher: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
4. "Employment law and occupational health: A practical handbook. ." by Lewis, J. & Thornbury, G.
   Publisher: Blackwell Scientific Publications
5. "Occupational Health: Recognising and Preventing work related Disease." by Levy, B.S. & Wegman, D.H
   Publisher: Philadelphia: Lippincott William & Wilkins.
6. "Occupational Toxicology." by Winder C. & Stacey N.
   Publisher: Taylor and Francis.
7. "Ross and Wilson Anatomy & Physiology in health & illness." by Waugh, A.
   Publisher: Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston.

RequiredIE520: Ergonomics

IE520: Ergonomics

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Anthropometrics, Task Analysis, Posture Assessment, Manual Handling, Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMDs), Display Screen Equipment, Workstation Design, Hand Tools Design and Assessment, Design for Assembly, Ergonomics in the Design Process, Shift Work, Working Time, Evaluation. Introduction to Systems, Task Analysis, Vision, Information Processing, Short Term Memory, Working Memory, Long Term Memory. Selective, Divided, Focused, and Sustained Attention. Static Information, Dynamic information. Visual Capabilities.Displaying Information. Typography, Arrangements of Components. Compatibility Relationships. Situation Awareness, Allocation of Functions, Selected Topics in Human Factors, Systems and Artifact Evaluation.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. The ability to identify, formulate, analyse, and solve ergonomic design and assessment problems
2. Analyse and represent tasks for inclusion in the design process
3. To establish user requirements through the analysis of human machine systems
4. To comprehend the measurement of body size, shape, strength and working capacity and their application to ergonomic design and assessment problems
5. To comprehend the role of standards and regulations in ergonomics design and assessment problems
6. To adopt a user centered approach to ergonomic design problems, particularly with respect to human machine systems
7. To develop task analysis of existing and envisioned human machine systems
8. The ability to utilize a selection of ergonomic tools and methods in a user centered design and assessment approach
9. To utilize mock ups and models to explore and present solutions to ergonomics design and assessment problems
10. Understand the role of the human in human-machine systems
11. Understand the way in which information is processed by humans
12. Assess and specify aspects of visual and auditory displays to improve human information processing in specified tasks
13. Design and develop the configuration and layout of displays and controls at workstations
14. Analyse and represent tasks for inclusion in the design process
15. Evaluate selected human-machine systems and synthesize specifications for improved versions of them

Assessments

• Written Assessment (60%)
• Continuous Assessment (40%)

Teachers

•  ENDA FRANCIS FALLON 🖂
  
•  WILLIAM KELLY 🖂
  
•  BONAVENTURE KENNEDY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Ergonomics: Foundational Principles, Applications, and Technologies" by Pamela McCauley Bush
   ISBN: 9781439804452.
   Publisher: CRC Press
2. "Human factors in engineering and design" by Mark S. Sanders, Ernest J. McCormick
   ISBN: 007054901X.
   Publisher: McGraw-Hill
3. "Bodyspace" by Stephen Pheasant and Christine M. Haslegrave
   ISBN: 0415285208.
   Publisher: Boca Raton, FL ; Taylor & Francis, 2005, c2006.
4. "A guide to the ergonomics of manufacturing" by Martin Helander
   ISBN: 0748401229.
   Publisher: London ; Taylor & Francis, c1995.
5. "Handbook of human factors and ergonomics methods" by Neville Stanton... [et al.]
   ISBN: 0415287006.
   Publisher: Boca Raton, Fla. ; CRC, c2005.
6. "Cumulative trauma disorders" by edited by Vern Putz-Anderson
   ISBN: 9780850664058.
   Publisher: Taylor & Francis

RequiredEP505: Occupational Hygiene

EP505: Occupational Hygiene

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module aims to provide students with the fundamental principles of Occupational Hygiene and Environmental assessment. Students will develop specific skills and competencies to anticipate, evaluate and control occupational and environmental hazards through practical application.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the role of occupational and environmental assessment in protecting the health and well being of the worker and the community
2. Anticipate exposure risks to the worker and the environment arising from biological, chemical and physical hazards at work
3. Assess exposure risk arising from the presence of physical, chemical and biological hazards in the work environment
4. Select and apply appropriate measurement tools and protocols for assessing occupational and environmental hazards
5. Analyse and interpret occupational exposure data and environmental assessment data
6. Investigate, recommend and implement suitable exposure controls
7. Appreciate the need for continuous professional development in this area
8. Communicate the results from occupational and environmental assessments both orally and in written format

Assessments

• Written Assessment (70%)
• Continuous Assessment (30%)

Teachers

•  HARALD BERRESHEIM 🖂
  
•  MIRIAM BYRNE 🖂
  
•  MARIE COGGINS 🖂
  
•  JOAN LALLY 🖂
  
•  SILKE KLEEFELD 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Monitoring for health hazards at work." by J.W. Cherrie, R.M. Howie and S. Semple
   Publisher: Blackwell Science.
2. "Occupational Hygiene" by K. Gardiner and J.M. Harrington
3. "An Introduction to Local Exhaust Ventilation" by HSE Guidance Note HSG37
   Publisher: HSE Books
4. "Maintenance, Examination, and Testing of Local Exhaust Ventilation" by HSE Guidance Note HSG54
   Publisher: HSE Books
5. "The Thermal Environment, Science Reviews Ltd." by British Occupational Hygiene Society
6. "Controlling Noise at Work" by HSE Books
7. "Hand arm Vibration The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations" by n/a
   Publisher: HSE Books

RequiredHP832: Research Methods

HP832: Research Methods

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module takes the students through the research process, from formulating research questions, identifying the preferred approach to testing them, developing research tools, collecting and analysing data and critically interpreting the findings.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Have an understanding of the research process
2. Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different methodological approaches
3. Be able to select appropriate research methods for different research questions
4. Have an understanding of basic qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques
5. Be able to critically review research articles
6. Be able to prepare a basic research protocol
7. Have an understanding of evaluation research
8. Understand and be able to execute statistical techniques employing SPSS.

Assessments

• Department-based Assessment (100%)

Teachers

•  MARGARET BARRY 🖂
  
•  DENISE GLAVIN 🖂
  
•  SAOIRSE NIC GABHAINN 🖂
  
•  LISA PURSELL 🖂
  
•  JANE SIXSMITH 🖂
  
•  Stacey Gibbons 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Basic Epidemiology" by Beaglehole, R., Bonita, R. & Kjellstrom, T.
   Publisher: World Health Organization
2. "Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services" by Bowling, A.
   Publisher: Open University Press.
3. "Real World Research" by Robson, C. & McCarten, K.
   Publisher: Wiley
4. "Evaluation: A Systematic Approach" by Rossi, P.H., Lipsey, M.W. & Freeman, H.E.
   Publisher: Sage
5. "Evaluating Health Promotion: Practice and Methods" by Thorogood, M. & Coombes, Y.
   Publisher: Oxford University Press.
6. "SPSS survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using SPSS." by Pallant, J.
   Publisher: Maidenhead: Open University Press.
7. "Discovering Statistics using SPSS" by Field, A.
   Publisher: Sage

RequiredOH503: Research Thesis

OH503: Research Thesis

15 months long | Credits: 30

This module aims to allow students to develop specific skills and competencies to design and execute research work in occupational & Environmental health and safety

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain objectives and develop a research hypothesis
2. Critically review and interpret research articles and conduct a research literature review
3. Select, justify, and recommend a range of specialist and novel research tools and methodologies to collect, analyse and synthesise data
4. Select, assess and apply research methodologies for different research questions.
5. Collect and discuss research data
6. Analyse and interpret research data
7. Effectively Communicate research data and present the results to the scientific community
8. Self evaluate the outcome of your Research Thesis and make recommendations for future research

Assessments

• Research (100%)

Teachers

•  MIRIAM BYRNE 🖂
  
•  DEIRDRE CALLANAN 🖂
  
•  MARIE COGGINS 🖂
  
•  ENDA FRANCIS FALLON 🖂
  
•  VICTORIA HOGAN 🖂
  
•  MARTINA KELLY 🖂
  
•  ANNE O'GRADY 🖂
  
•  LISA PURSELL 🖂
  
•  JANE SIXSMITH 🖂
  
•  Helena Martin 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Health Sciences literature review made easy: The matrix method" by Jones & Bartlett Garrand, J.
2. "Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches" by Creswell, J. W.
   Publisher: Sage Publications Inc.
3. "Human Factors Methods" by Human Factors Methods
4. "Practical Guide for Engineering and Design" by Ashgate.
5. "Applications of case study research" by Yin, R. K.
   Publisher: 2003)
6. "Human Factors Methods and Accident Analysis. Ashgate." by Salmon, P., Stanton, N., Lenne, M., Jenkins, D., Rafferty, L. and Walker, G

RequiredLW501: Legal Studies

LW501: Legal Studies

Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments

• Written Assessment (80%)
• Continuous Assessment (20%)

RequiredIE522: Safety And Risk Management

IE522: Safety And Risk Management

Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module aims to provide students with a framework for managing occupational and environmental safety and risk in all workplaces
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. Recognise and discuss basic safety terminology and concepts as they apply to occupational and environmental conditions
2. Explain the multifactorial theory of accident causation
3. Describe and critique models used to explain the causes of accidents, both occupational and environmental and to promte prevention
4. Appraise the role of risk perception in accident causation and assess the principles underlying behaviour
5. Discover and recommend methodologies to assess the human contribution to risk
6. Perform risk assessments using validated methodologies and judge their effective application to safety systems
7. Summarise and justify the cost and acceptability of risk
8. Assess the hazards and risks associated with specific work environments
9. Formulate and recommend methodologies for the recognition, evaluation and control of workplace occupational and environmental risk and justify their application
10. Recognise and specify the components of an integrated management system for managing occupational and environmental risk
11. Recognise and specify proprietary and non-proprietary management standards including ISO14001 and OHSAS18001

Assessments

• Written Assessment (70%)
• Continuous Assessment (30%)

Teachers

•  MARTINA KELLY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Engineering a Safer World: Systems Thinking Aplied to Safety" by Levenson, N
   Publisher: MIT Press
2. "Basic Guide to System Safety" by Vincoli J W
3. "Review of Hazard identification Techniques" by Health & Safety Laboratories
4. "Mil-Std-882E System Safety" by US Department of Defence
5. "HSG48 Reducing Error and Influencing Behaviour" by Health & Safety Executive
6. "Transforming healthcare: a safety imperative." by Leape L et al
   Publisher: Quality and Safety in Health Care