Workplace Health and Safety

The development of analytical and evaluation skills is required in the management of environmental issues. Students are exposed to environmental policies, legislation procedures, and become familiar with the implications and effects of environmental management strategies. The application and development of site inspections and program auditing are explored to assist in the recognition and analysis of potential environmental risks as they would apply in the development of an environmental management system.

An overview of ergonomics principles highlights basic worksite investigation and familiarization with basic principles relating to anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, manual material handling, cumulative trauma disorders, and office ergonomics.

The risk of fire is a threat to health, safety and the delivery of services. Students learn specific information related to fire and life safety. Topics include the chemistry and physics of fire, building design for life safety, and other aspects of fire and life safety. Applicable legislation related to fire and life safety is also covered.This course contains mandatory group work. We recommend viewing the course schedule immediately upon logging into the course to view course and group work requirements.

Workplace safety encompasses the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of chemical, physical and biological hazards arising in or from the workplace. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and other relevant legislation are explored.

Understanding the various jurisdictions is foundational to occupational health and safety. Students learn to locate specific legislation, the interface between the statutes, regulations, codes and standards. The obligations of employers and of employees is discussed, as is the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and Regulations, filing claims, entitlement decision making, benefits, appeals and re-employment.

Emerging trends and current management issues, concepts, and practices pertaining to the field of occupational health and safety are examined. Discussion focuses on several functional characteristics within organizations that pose unique challenges for the practitioner attempting to effectively manage resources, both material and human.

This course introduces participants to the broad and ever-changing field of occupational health and safety, an inherently technical subject area. The multiple dimensions of the various issues--technical, legislative, political, and personal--are a required part of the training for a professional in this field or for someone who is involved with this kind of operation. Major topic areas include the Occupational Health and Safety Act, WCB, WHMIS, transportation of dangerous goods, accident prevention and investigation, physical and biological agents, and the management of Occupational Health and Safety programs.