Course Outline

Principles of Occupational Safety/Loss Control (RC 381/581)
Risk Control Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Fall 2009

Course

RC-381/581; PRINCIPLES OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY/LOSS CONTROL

Meeting Time

Section 001, Tuesday & Thursday, 4:05 pm to 5:30 pm

Instructor

Dr. Brian J. Finder, CIH
Room 188 Micheels Hall
Telephone: (715) 232-1422
E-MAIL: finderb@uwstout.edu
Availability: I'm usually around, but due to my spastic schedule,  please take the time to make a formal appointment.

Resources

• The Safety and Health Handbook, 6th Edition, by David L. Goetsch

• 29 CFR 1910 OSHA General Industry standards (www.osha.gov)

• Supporting materials will be distributed at the beginning the course, so invest in a three-ring binder to effectively hold it.

Course Purpose

An introduction to risk management philosophies/techniques including those associated with protecting employee, property, environmental, and financial-based assets. Extensive emphasis is placed on the development and refinement of internal practices/standards which focus on the anticipation, identification, analysis, and control of risks that are inherent to the operation at hand.

Expected Student Competencies & Associated Reading Assignments

         Unit One (Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 31 in  Goetsch)

• Apply the six-step risk management process to organizational loss prevention strategies.

• Understand the extent that human-based loss affects organizational productivity. 

• Apply the five fundamental risk control principles to specific organizational control practices. 

• Differentiate between active and reactive forms of loss measurement and the reasons for using such benchmarking techniques.

• Define the process required to develop as well as implement management-based systems which are aimed at preventing the occurrence of loss.

• Understand the theory of worker compensation insurance, its computation, and means to effectively control associated costs.
  
  

• Unit Two (Chapters 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18 in  Goetsch)
  

• Apply sound strategies to help maintain a non-adversarial relationship between private industry and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

• Reference web-based OSHA safety/engineering standards to identified hazards.

• Apply the Ishikawa (e.g., fishbone) analysis process to identify the multi-causal aspect of loss occurrence and the multi-solution approach to loss prevention.

• Identify basic physical, mechanical, chemical, electrical, biological-based hazards.

• Differentiate between engineering and administrative-based hazard abatement controls and identify the preferred method from a risk management standpoint.

• Identify the different forms of personal protective equipment as well as the implications associated with the use of such.
  
  Unit Three (Chapters 10, 19, & 25 in  Goetsch)
  

• Apply chemical-based knowledge of fire to prevention and extinguishment strategies

• Analyze risk factors which contribute to the occurrence of cumulative trauma disorders.

• Apply proven workplace engineering and administrative techniques to help minimize the occurrence of recognized ergonomic hazards.

• Understand the loss exposure associated with possessing a fleet operation and the internal systems required to control such exposure.

• Identify and apply the strategies required to prevent product/service liability-oriented situations.

Evaluation

• Three (3) Written Examinations (approx. 63%) There will be three formal examinations spread throughout the term which consist of true/false and multiple-choice questions.

• Three (3) Safety Related Abstracts (approx. 10%) Students will be required to find three separate articles directly related to safety/loss control and write an abstract of each article using the format found on the last page of the course syllabus. Abstracts must be typed and submitted by the conclusion of class on the following due dates: 9/17, 9/24 and 10/2.

• One (1) OSHA Identification of Fundamental Hazards Assignment (approx. 10%) Given a list of hazards, the student will research OSHA CFR's on the web and determine the appropriate standard chapter/verse which applies to the identified hazard.

• One (1) Hazard Recognition/Abatement Assignment (approx. 10%) Using knowledge of the five major types of hazards and an OSHA computer-based exposure assessment program, all students will practice at identifying and abating such hazards at a business/industrial operation of their choice.   

Additional Graduate Student Assignment

All graduate students will be expected to complete an additional assignment where they will audit the risk control systems (those that do exist as well as should be in place) for a business/manufacturing firm of their choice. The results of this audit must be professionally written in a memo format to the organization’s contact person. Specific components of this audit should include the: 

• Purpose of the audit 
• A brief sketch of the organization as well as it's major risks.
• An evaluation of risk control-related practices in place.  At a minimum, the practices to be reviewed by the student would include top management leadership and support, performance measurement, risk assessment and internal standards development, standards communication and enforcement, accident reporting and analysis, fire prevention and control, ergonomics, hazard recognition and abatement, and personal protective equipment use.
• Any identified deficiencies in established systems 
• Recommendations for further system refinement/development, 
• Any specific hazards identified during the facility evaluation, and
• Recommendations for abating identified hazards. 

The course instructor must receive a copy of the student’s completed audit by May 7, 2009. Time allowing, each graduate student will provide the class with a brief overview of his/her audit.

Grading

Grades are based on the student's total points earned using the following breakdown:

The instructor will not permit extra credit work to be performed in order to raise a student's grade level. If a student's performance is adequate for established evaluation criteria, there should not be any need for extra credit. Students who must miss a class on a day of a quiz or test should arrange a substitute time with the instructor. Unexcused absences on test or quiz days may result in no recorded grade for the test of graded activity.

Instructor's Teaching Philosophy

The instructor's philosophy towards teaching adults is that a two-way street exists in the classroom for sharing factual information, experiences, and perceptions.  Following are what the students can expect from the instructor:

• Present the course content in an orderly fashion

• Be prepared at each class 

• Present himself and conduct the class in a friendly and respectful manner

• Not be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances during work/class times

• Begin and end class on time

• Speak clearly and give concise directions

• Provide the students with applicable and current information as well as real-life experiences 

• Listen to students and attempt to answer their questions thoroughly 

• Follow up on unanswered student questions by the next class period

• Grade students' assignments fairly and consistently

• Provide ample notification of tests/other assignments not specifically dated in the syllabus

• Grade and return tests and applicable assignments within one week of being submitted 

Following are the instructor's expectations of the students:

• Attend all scheduled class meetings unless previously excused

• Be in their chair and ready at the beginning of the class time

• Not be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances during work/class times

• Not be preoccupied with a laptop computer unless otherwise required in class

• Enter through the rear of the room if attending class late

• Complete assigned readings and be prepared to discuss such material intelligently

• Complete required assignments on-time and in a quality manner

• Speak in class only when recognized/prompted by the instructor

• Be friendly and respectful to fellow students

• Contribute their own knowledge, expertise, and viewpoints in class

• Have Student Support (X-2995) contact the instructor if legitimate special needs exist

• Make up excused major exams within two days of the original test date

Course References

• Accident Facts. National Safety Council, Chicago, Illinois. The Council - Annual.

• Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operation. The Council, Chicago, Illinois.

• Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Vern Putz-Anderson, Taylor & Francis

• Techniques of Safety Management. Petersen, Dan. McGraw Hill Company, Second Edition

• Fire Protection Handbook, Fifteenth Edition, National Fire Protection Association, Boston 

• Code of Federal Regulations - Parts 1900-1910, U.S. Department of Labor

• BNA Occupational Safety & Health Reporter. 

Periodical References

• Occupational Hazards (http://www.occupationalhazards.com/)

• National Safety News

• Professional Safety, The American Society of Safety Engineers.

• Occupational Health & Safety (http://www.oshonline.com/)

• Health & Safety Science Abstract.

• Industrial Hygiene News (www.rimbach.com/home/ihnpage/IHN.HTM)

• Ergonomics News

• Plant Safety & Maintenance

Required Abstract Format
============================================================================

Student Name & Section #

Magazine: (Title and Date of Magazine/Publication)

Article: (Title of Article and Author)

Summary of article in your own words (minimum 2/3  page, maximum of 1 1/2 space & 12 point)

Your analysis/synthesis of the article (minimum 1/4 page, maximum 1 1/2 space & 12 point)