M6026 - Master of Occupational and Environmental Health - 2017

This course equips workplace professionals with the skills and knowledge in quality-level occupational health and safety services in order to identify, prevent and manage occupational and environmental health risks and related health problems. Students will learn to systematically control related hazards and exposures within a broad range of workplace and community environments. The course aims to enable students to take responsibility for high-level independent judgements and initiate, implement and evaluate risk management interventions within varied occupational and environmental contexts. It is particularly suitable for medical practitioners, nurses, allied health personnel, scientists and occupational health and safety managers. The course is offered by off-campus learning, however compulsory block attendance is required each semester.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical framework which governs occupational health and safety practice and the obligations of industry in regard to the environment
2. access, critically appraise and integrate hazard information from published studies and other relevant sources in the literature to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement and responsibility in an occupational and environmental health professional and/or management role
3. recognise, evaluate the level of exposure and assess the degree of risk to health from chemical, physical and biological workplace and environmental hazards and provide advice on appropriate control measures in the workplace and the community
4. demonstrate an understanding of the factors underlying risk perception and be able to effectively and sensitively communicate, in both written and oral forms, these risks to exposed people in the workplace and the community
5. identify, recommend and source or provide occupational health services, including preventative and rehabilitation programs and environmental advice to industry
6. demonstrate an understanding of epidemiological and biostatistical techniques and apply and interpret the knowledge to investigate health effects from occupational and environmental hazards.
7. Research knowledge and apply theories and research methods to a variety of occupational and environmental health problems and evaluate how they impact on health status and inform professional practice.

This course is accredited by the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board.

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Occupational and environmental health studies and Part B. Advanced applied studies. All students complete Part A and Part B.

Part A. Occupational and environmental health studies

In these studies, you will gain an introduction to occupational health and safety, epidemiology, biostatistics as applied to public health and management studies and the principles and practice of ergonomics. You will learn about the effects and human costs of occupational disease and injury and how to recognise, evaluate and control workplace hazards drawing on an understanding of the psychosocial effects of the work environment.

Part B. Advanced application studies

The focus of these studies is in professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options:

• a research pathway where you will gain the practical skills required to formulate a research question and design and assess a research project. Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this first option.
• a coursework pathway where you select elective units to suit your own interests.

The course comprises 72 points structured into two parts: Part A. Occupational and environmental health studies (48 points) and Part B. Advanced application studies (24 points).

The course progression map will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Occupational and environmental health studies (48 points)

Students complete:

• MPH5241 Introduction to occupational health and safety
• MPH5243 Chemical and biological hazards
• MPH5222 Assessment and control of workplace hazards
• MPH5244 Ergonomic and physical hazards
• MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
• MPH5242 Psychosocial work environment
• MPH5203 Environmental influences on health
• MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics

Students must achieve a minimum mark of 70 per cent in MPH5040 and MPH5041 to progress into the research pathway. Students who do not achieve the required minimum marks will be automatically moved to the coursework pathway.

Part B. Advanced application studies (24 points)

Students complete either a. a research pathway or b. a coursework pathway:

a. Research pathway

Student complete:

• MPH5213 Research Methods
• MPH5231 Research design and project proposal
• MPH5232 Research conduct analysis, write-up and submission
• MPH5276 Safety management systems or another elective

b. Coursework pathway

Students complete:

• MPH5276 Safety management systems
• 18 points from the elective list below.

Elective list

• MPH5213 Research methods
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention
• BTF5910 Sustainability regulation
• any approved postgraduate unit offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive MedicineSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/index-byou-school-of-public-health-and-preventive-medicine.html) or Department of Epidemiology and Preventive MedicineDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/index-byou-department-of-epidemiology-and-preventive-medicine.html), except the following units: MPH5020, MPH5301-5314 and EPM5001-5015. Suitable units are those that commence with numbers 4 or 5.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate of Occupational Health after successful completion of 24 points comprising MPH5222, MPH5241, MPH5243, MPH5244
• Graduate Diploma of Occupational and Environmental Health after successful completion of 48 points comprising MPH5203, MPH5222, MPH5040, MPH5241, MPH5242, MPH5243, MPH5244, MPH527.

Students completing the research pathway may be eligible to progress to a higher degree by research program.