Undergraduate - UnitSCI3716 - Laboratory and workplace management

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Offered	Gippsland First semester 2015 (Day) Gippsland First semester 2015 (Off-campus) Malaysia First semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Phillip Brook-Carter (Gippsland); Professor Chow Sek Chuen (Malaysia)

Synopsis

This unit is designed to introduce intending scientists to the principles of laboratory and workplace management and their obligations as experts and supervisors. It will cover legislation and the responsibilities of both employers and employees in issues such as occupational health and safety; handling of dangerous goods and the analysis, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment and management of these issues in a laboratory and workplace environment. The subject will be taught by programmed learning material and practical work consisting of assessment and discussion of case studies and workplace excursions.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Discuss selected issues in managing a scientific laboratory;

Describe their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and related legislation;

Recognise hazards associated with chemical and biological materials, instruments and ionising radiation and the risks they impose;

Undertake a risk assessment and recommend safe working procedures;

Outline their legislated obligations in recycling and disposal of hazardous materials;

Apply the principles of chemistry, biology, microbiology and physical science to the treatment of hazardous materials;

Discuss the effects of waste materials on the environment;

Recommend procedures for the analysis and treatment of hazardous wastes before disposal to the environment.

Assessment

A major risk assessment assignment (3000 words): 35%
Practical reports throughout the semester: 20%
Examination (3 hours): 45%

Workload requirements

2-hour tutorial/discussion session and 2-hour practical class/field trip per week

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chow Sek Chuen

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Biotechnology

Prerequisites

Six points of level one chemistry plus six points of level two laboratory science