Occupational Health and Safety Practitioners

Introduces the external forces in the business environment and the resulting implications for organizations. Examines the place of business in BC and Canada. Focus is on the issues arising from government policies, economics, ethics, social environment, forms of businesses, and the basic components of business operations.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Presents both traditional and contemporary perspectives of modern management examining management and management roles in teams, projects, departments and the organization as a whole. Strategic planning, operational planning, leading, organizing and controlling for performance will be addressed. Through actual business scenarios, cases and exercises, participants gain experience in decision-making and applying theory to real world organizations.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Explores the provincial OH&S legislation in BC governed by the BC Workers Compensation Act and the Workers Compensation Board Occupational Health & Safety Regulation. The history of BC legislation and how it has evolved sets the tone for discussions on the current legislative system, its enforcement and recent trends toward prosecution. Introduces the BC WCB structure, mandate policies, and procedures. Learning activities revolve around applying key regulations and sections of the Act to the workplace. Students must obtain a copy of the BC legislation or have access to it via the BC WCB's website.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 1000

​This course introduces the Canadian legal system including its development, and elements such as constitutional law, the Charter, torts, contracts, and business relationships. Emphasis is on the importance of business law to occupational health and safety and application by the OH&S professional.​
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 1000

Focuses on the reduction of the effects of disasters through established and proven workplace emergency plans, procedures, and training. Evaluates the issues that arise prior to, during, and immediately following an emergency, as well as the long-range recovery challenges that follow. Discusses the development of an emergency response team and its implications. Includes an overview of community and government disaster services.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 1000 and (60% in OCHS 1100 or 60% in OCHS 2100)

This course develops student ability to objectively analyze (audit) the effectiveness of an organization's occupational health and safety program and overall safety system. Explores several measurement and analysis tools and investigates various approaches used to determine safety program effectiveness. Explains and contrasts compliance analyses and best practice analyses. Describes several methods of designing and administering review criteria, questionnaires, perception surveys, interviews, and a final report. You analyze either the workplace inspection component or the safety committee component of a safety program at an organization of your choice. Plan to spend about twelve hours at the workplace you choose. You observe the work and the work environment, review documents, administer a questionnaire, and conduct interviews. You present the results of your component analysis in a final report.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 2200

This is the final and most advanced course in the Workplace Hazards and Controls series. The course is effectively divided into two sections. In the first section the student is introduced to OHS systems in a number of industry sectors (petroleum, forestry, railway, aviation, etc.) and to several advanced OHS topics (arc flash, traffic control). In the second section the student is introduced to the practice of full scope risk management. Risk management topics covered include loss categories and the relationship between loss control and risk financing in the practice of risk management.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 2340

Covers human factors in the scientific study of people at work. Emphasizes strategies and techniques for improving worker safety, health, efficiency, and comfort. Discusses recent trends in the ergonomics field, including the physical working environment, adaptation of tools and the workplace to the worker, equipment design, impacts on productivity, and the importance of involving workers and management in all ergonomics program efforts.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 1100 or 60% in OCHS 2100

Focuses on return to work options and opportunities for workers who have suffered injuries. Introduces the integrated case management team concept. Although often considered a cost reduction tool, demonstrates how the integrated team approach can be designed to ensure the dignity and well-being of the injured worker. Module topics include an overview of injury management, rehabilitation and return to work, legislation policies and ethics, collective agreement considerations, basics of assessment and treatment, negotiation skills, case studies, and development of a practical injury management plan for the workplace.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 1100 or 60% in OCHS 2100

This theory course introduces the concepts of recognizing, identifying, monitoring, evaluation, and recommending control measures for common chemical and physical hazards in the workplace. Discusses the benefits of implementing an occuptional hygiene program. Explores a wide range of hygiene topics including permissible levels, exposure limits, radiation, temperature and pressure extremes, asbestos contamination, and ventilation design.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 2340 and 60% in OCHS 2420

This one-week laboratory session provides hands-on training in the calibration and use of occupational hygiene equipment. The small class size ensures that all students can participate in practical exercises with the equipment. Conducts hygiene monitoring on the BCIT campus in Burnaby, BC.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 4320

Provides an overview of occupational diseases and their causes, prevalence, and prevention. Occupational health is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to the recognition, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of work-related diseases and injuries. One module introduces how to set up and lead an occupational health program. Discusses respiratory, skin, liver, and kidney disorders. Explores occupational diseases of the nervous system and reproductive system, as well as those related to biological and physical agent exposures. A module on occupational cancer addresses this timely and controversial workplace concern.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 4320

​This course is designed for those who would like to take on the role of a fire safety practitioner. Topics include fire codes and laws and how to apply fire safety concepts to the workplace and safe building construction. The principles of fire chemistry and how these relate to fire management are examined. Fire safety, detection, control, inspection and safety assessments are addressed. Participants will develop skills related to advising on the development or revision of Fire Safety Programs. The course then explores fire safety training and how to develop, design and deliver safety training. Finally, participants will examine how to conduct a post-fire investigation.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Explores fire detection and suppression. Includes fire detection systems, portable fire extinguishers, automatic sprinkler systems, fire, smoke, and heat alarms, and fire annunciation panels. Discusses the specific detection and suppression issues of chemical, heating, and electrical hazards. Describes the firefighter's role in prevention and suppression.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Examines environmental law in Canada and explores current trends including air, water and soil quality, municipal and hazardous waste management, and the environmental assessment process. Explores in-depth the current environmental issues, with an emphasis on Canadian industries. Also discusses the roles and impact of the media, partisan politics, and the public.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in OCHS 2320

Designed to help develop a personal learning plan to prepare for the Canadian Registered Safety Professional examination. One course module outlines the application, examination, and registration processes. Encourages you to evaluate your competencies in each of the exam domains and determine your readiness to write the exam. Also includes a series of exam preparation and writing techniques. Identifies additional reference sources and links for students who need to study a particular topic in more depth.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.