Syllabus

Graduate Programs in Public Health

GPH 724: Introduction to Occupational Health – Spring B 2025

Credits - 3

Description

Work occupies approximately one-third of our lives, making the prevention of occupational-related diseases a critical component of public health. This course highlights the vital role of occupational health in promoting overall health and well-being, emphasizing its connection to broader public health goals. Students will learn to recognize, evaluate, and address workplace hazards through evidence-based interventions and control strategies. By linking general principles and global processes to local issues and regulatory frameworks, the course uses case studies to illustrate practical applications. Additionally, it examines the challenges faced by specific groups of employees at disproportionate risk and explores innovative solutions to advance health equity in the workplace.

Pre-Requisites

No pre-requisites.

Course Format:
This course will be delivered through a web-based format and is designed for completion online. The eight modules include reading assignments, quizzes in some weeks, written assignments, and discussion activities. A chosen case study will be used to practice the workplace inspection and reporting process. The weekly modules will be made available by 12:01 AM on Wednesdays.

Materials

Textbook:

  • Optional – recommended as a reference: Friend MA, Kohn JP. Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health. 8th ed. Bernan Press; 2023.

 *Links to additional required and suggested weekly readings and multimedia are provided in the course.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Outcomes

  • Describe how the authority and responsibilities of government agencies and non-governmental organizations function together and independently in the United States
  • Classify each category of occupational health and safety standards in the  workplace
  • Develop targeted outreach to both employers and employees to reduce health disparities for groups who may be at disproportional risk for occupational hazards
  • Apply a lens of cultural humility to construct strategies and programs to serve the occupational health needs of all workplace populations
  • Design effective interventions to mitigate hazards, using evidence-based controls at the appropriate level of hierarchy
  • Communicate clearly the workplace hazards, recommended interventions, and public health rationale to employers and supervisors to improve occupational health
  • Determine best practices for protecting occupational health based on reputable sources 

Program Competencies

  • Assess workplace strain and potential hazards for disease outcomes to communicate such risks and implications to employers
  • Design culturally informed intervention for addressing identified workplace hazards

Assignments

Forum Discussions: 

Discussion forums are an essential part of the online course experience. Discussion prompts build on readings, lectures, and course content, allowing students to contribute to the learning experience by collaborating with the instructor and peers. Read the prompts carefully and use the rubrics to confirm how discussions will be graded.

Unless otherwise specified in the course, initial discussion posts are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET and any response posts are due by Wednesday at 11:59 PM ET.

 

Final Project: Workplace Inspection Final Report and Presentation

Each week you will be practicing the tasks and skills needed for performing a typical occupational health workplace inspection and creating a final report. Using a chosen case study, you will assess the workplace using information provided: inspecting the facility for hazards, evaluating environmental sampling, identifying gaps, and making clear recommendations.

In week 7, the weekly assignments of reports sections will be synthesized to create the final workplace inspection report for the employer.

In week 8, the workplace inspection report will be summarized and presented via slides and video narration. Utilize the provided information in the course module to properly format your presentation. 

Quizzes

  • Week 2 – Comparison and classification of biological and chemical hazards
  • Week 3 – Comparison and classification of ergonomic and physical hazards
  • Week 4 – Comparison and classification of safety and workplace hazards
  • Week 5 – Categorization of all categories of occupational hazards
  • Week 6 – Calculating exposure levels and limits; making recommendations  

Expectations:

All work is expected to be at a graduate school level in terms of quality. Please access resources provided for additional support if needed, and communicate with your instructor if more clarity is needed on an assessment. 

 

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

TasksPoints
Week 1 Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement Quiz1
Weeks 1-5 Discussions - points vary each week16
Week 1 Assignment: Workplace Background (Report Part 1) 5
Week 2 Assignment: Workplace Environment (Report Part 2) 5
Weeks 2-5 Quizzes 4 @ 4pts each16
Week 3 Assignment: Management and Evaluation of Safety and Health (Report Part 3)5
Week 4 Assignment: Hazards and Observations (Report Part 4)5
Week 5 Assignment: Cultural Humility (Report Part 5) 7
Week 6 Assignment: Occupational Epidemiology and Recommendations (Report Part 6)5
Week 6 Quiz6
Week 7 Assignment: Workplace Final Inspection Report15
Week 7 Discussion: Slide Presentation Development9
Week 8 Discussion: Video Presentation5
Total100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Dates

Week 1: Mar 12 – Mar 19
Week 2: Mar 19 – Mar 26
Week 3: Mar 26 – Apr 2
Week 4: Apr 2 – Apr 9
Week 5: Apr 9 – Apr 16
Week 6: Apr 16 – Apr 23
Week 7: Apr 23 – Apr 30
Week 8: Apr 30 – May 4


The assignment/discussion descriptions mentioned below are summaries. Please be sure to review the full assignment prompts in Brightspace.  

 

Week 1: Introduction to Occupational Health and its Partners

Learning Outcomes

    • Explain interest in occupational health and a specific industry
    • Examine the unique perspectives, authorities, and responsibilities of partners in occupational health to inform audience-appropriate effective communication
    • Assess a chosen case study’s background for relevant information to include in an occupational health report

Learning Activities

    • Week 1 Discussion – Introductions and Partners in Occupational Health
    • Week 1 Assignment – Workplace Background (Final Report Section 1)

Week 2: Biological and Chemical Hazards

Learning Outcomes

    • Classify biological and chemical hazards in the workplace
    • Assess the chosen case study for relevant information about the internal and external workplace environments
    • Develop appropriate components of an emergency preparedness plan to address regionally-specific occupational health risks

Learning Activities

    • Week 2 Discussion: Emergency Preparedness
    • Week 2 Assignment: Workplace Environment (Final Report Section 2)
    • Week 2 Quiz: Biological and Chemical Hazards

Week 3: Ergonomics and Physical Hazards

Learning Outcomes

    • Classify ergonomic and physical hazards in the workplace
    • Arrange employees into similar exposure groups
    • Assess existing occupational safety, health, and accessibility measures in the chosen case study
    • Evaluate the equality of occupational health training provided to employees in the case study
    • Adapt reproductive health recommendations to a diverse audience using effective presentation skills

Learning Activities

    • Week 3 Discussion: Inclusive Reproductive Health
    • Week 3 Assignment: Management and Evaluation of Workplace Safety and Health Measures (Final Report Section 3)
    • Week 3 Quiz: Ergonomics and Physical Hazards

Week 4: Safety and Work Organization Hazards

Learning Outcomes

    • Classify safety and work organization hazards
    • Evaluate occupational safety and health hazards present in the specific case study workplace chosen
    • Develop management strategies to reduce work organization hazards
    • Construct the experience of an in-person site walkaround and employee interviews
    • Illustrate the challenges a Compliance Safety and Health Officer might have in their work

Learning Activities

    • Week 4 Discussion: Workplace Inspections
    • Week 4 Assignment: Occupational Hazards and Walkaround Observations (Final Report Section 4)
    • Week 4 Quiz: Safety and Work Organization
    • Optional activity: Understanding Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

Week 5: Cultural Humility and Hierarchy of Controls

Learning Outcomes:

    • Classify hazards in the workplace across the six types of hazards
    • Integrate cultural humility into the development of an occupational health report
    • Recommend the most realistic and applicable control along the hierarchy of controls for a given hazard

Learning Activities:

    • Week 5 Discussion: Hierarchy of Controls
    • Week 5 Assignment: Cultural Humility (Final Report Part 5)
    • Week 5 Quiz: Occupational Hazard Categorization

Week 6: Data, Occupational Epidemiology, and Recommendations

Learning Outcomes: 

    • Solve for the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL); and the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL); and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists’ threshold limit value (TLV) for a given hazard
    • Assess the time-weighted average (TWA), short-term exposure limit (STEL), and ceiling limit for a given hazard
    • Analyze the epidemiologic injury and illness data for the company
    • Evaluate whether the occupational safety and health measures being taken at the company are sufficient in light of the injury and illness trends, exposure monitoring results, and employee health surveillance findings
    • Determine the appropriate recommendations to mitigate each of the identified hazards in the workplace

Learning Activities:

    • No Discussion this week
    • Week 6 Assignment: Occupational Epidemiology and Recommendations
    • Week 6 Quiz: Exposure Calculations and Recommendations

Week 7: Occupational Health Communication

Learning Outcomes: 

    • Construct a comprehensive written report relaying case study workplace inspection findings from the previous weeks, incorporating feedback provided
    • Create a slide presentation to communicate the inspection findings and recommendations to a supervisor or employee using plain language

Learning Activities:

    • Week 7 Discussion: Slide Presentation Development
    • Week 7 Assignment: Workplace Inspection Final Report

Week 8: Conclusion

Learning Outcomes: 

    • Communicate via video presentation a summary of findings and recommendations for a supervisor, using audience-appropriate plain language

Learning Activities:

    • Week 8 Discussion: Video Presentation of Workplace Inspection

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Public Health page

UNE Libraries:

UNE Student Academic Success Center

UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. The SASC also offers tutoring for GPH 712 Epidemiology, GPH 716 Biostatistics, GPH 717 Applied Epidemiology, GPH 718 Biostatistics II, and GPH 719 Research Methods. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

  • ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Passing Grade Statement

A grade of 80% or higher is required to pass the course. A grade lower than 80% will result in you having to repeat the course. Obtaining two "Fs" in the program will result in dismissal from the program.

AMA Writing Style Statement

The American Medical Association Manual (AMA) of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course. Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.

Online resources: AMA Style Guide

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement

Learning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society. AI is not a substitute for developing and enhancing skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing essential to a public health professional. If you choose to use AI tools, such as ChatGPT and DALL-E2, they must be used wisely and intelligently to deepen your understanding of a subject matter and support learning. You are not allowed to use AI tools to generate your work. Content produced using AI tools cannot be used as a substitute for your original work.

Students in the Graduate Programs in Public Health (GPPH) must take ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of AI-generated content used in any work. You are expected to think critically about the results and alignment with the questions or tasks in the assignment and never substitute AI-generated results for professional human judgment and logic. GPPH students are also expected to understand that the information generated is not always accurate and, in some cases, propagates discrimination and bias. You must stay abreast of AI best practices, and the changing risks and benefits, and monitor AI for biases and risks for vulnerable populations and underrepresented groups.

Within GPPH, using AI-generated content in academic work falls under our academic integrity policies. All instructors will continue to use our AI detection software for each assignment submitted so it will be flagged.

Using any AI tool in your work must be acknowledged in-text every time it is used, not in your list of references. You will include a summary of what the AI tool was used to do, followed by the AI tool brand name, version/extension #, manufacturer/owner, and date used in parentheses.

For example, 

Themes from participant responses were identified using a chatbot session (ChatGPT, model GPT-4, OpenAI, May 17, 2024).

Failure to acknowledge the inclusion of AI-generated content in any work submitted violates our academic integrity policies and will be considered an infraction with the associated penalties for plagiarism as outlined in the Student Handbook.

The Student Orientation has a module "Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Students", please refer to this module for more information about navigating the use of AI.

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Late Policy

Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace.

Quizzes and Tests: Quizzes and tests must be completed by the due date. They will not be accepted after the due date.

Assignments: Unless otherwise specified, assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit https://www.une.edu/studentlife/plagiarism.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations.  Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.