OESM 101 - Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health

Course Description

An overview of the development and implementation of basic safety and health principles and techniques; identification of factors of causation, techniques of investigation and reporting and environment effects; survey of regulations and professional guidelines. Required for OESM majors.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Define types of accident and give an example for each type
  • Describe costs of accidents and explain major reasons for accident prevention
  • Classify air contaminants and list routes of entry
  • Explain health effects of common hazardous chemicals in the workplace
  • Identify common chemical, physical, and biological hazards in the workplace
  • Define 'ethics' and name guidelines used to determine ethical behavior
  • Discuss ethical issues for the health and safety professional
  • Identify federal and state agencies responsible for various functions in occupational and environmental safety & health
  • Explain how OSH standards are developed and enforced
  • Describe HIOSH compliance inspection procedures
  • Give examples of hazard control methods
  • Apply hazard analysis methods to a given scenario
  • Conduct a witness interview as part of a mock accident investigation
  • Describe characteristics of good machine guarding and give examples
  • Explain the lockout/tagout procedures
  • Describe hazards associated with electrical work and ways to control the hazards
  • Apply the following concepts: PEL, TLV, flash point, LEL, UEL
  • Use information from an MSDS to identify hazards and recommend controls
  • Identify risk factors for cumulative trauma disorders and recommend controls
  • Correctly record work-related injuries and illnesses in the OSHA 300 form
  • List cost items covered under the Hawaii Workers Compensation Law
  • Explain hazards evaluation requirements as part of the PPE program
  • Inspect and maintain a half-face respirator
  • Conduct qualitative fit testing for a half-face respirator
  • Name types of respirators and explain their limitations
  • Discuss relevant environmental regulations
  • Describe criteria for an effective health and safety program
  • Show quantitative ways to measure safety performance
  • Conduct a limited safety inspection of a workplace
  • Develop a written project on an occupation, its associated hazards, and hazard control methods