4 Step Project

Objectives

To provide a learning experience for DOH students in which a set of skills that is used in conducting, critically interpreting, and using the results of investigations in the workplace (eg occupational hygiene measurements) and research as published in the literature in the field of Occupational and Environmental Health will be developed.

Useful reference: A practical guide for the use of research information to improve the quality of occupational health practice.

The end product will be written work which will also be orally presented, and which will combine hazard analysis and risk assessment in a workplace, a literature survey, design of a small measurement exercise, analysis of measured data, and making recommendations in a comprehensive report to role players in the workplace.

4-STEP PROJECT TIMETABLE
STEP 1: Identification of work place and work place description/characterization followed by a Hazard scan or Risk Assessment	The workplace description should be comprehensive, and include the flow of the work process from raw materials to finished products, psycho-social issues such as hostel dwelling, overtime worked, shiftwork, wages etc. Also the usual things like process, occupational health services and structures, number of workers. If the workplace is very big this description can be limited to a part of it. A hospital or clinic is acceptable if students have problems finding another site. During this step students are taught how to do a hazard scan. They apply this to the workplace or a part of it so that all classes of hazard are identified and prioritized according to a risk assessment method (which they have to describe). No measurements are done but if the workplace has done them in the past these measurements are included.
STEP 2: A literature search will be conducted on one identified hazard and the selection of a particular hazard for more detailed investigation. During this step a short project protocol will be developed to measure and address the chosen hazard.	This is a simple protocol to ensure that obvious methodological issues are addressed and that the objective of the exercise is clear. The intention is to improve the occupational health service and not to do research(i.e. it should be something that an occupational health service would do routinely in order to evaluate an issue and improve the service e.g. implementing a better housekeeping programme in an analytical lab and evaluating staff blood lead levels for decline after the changes).This does not have to be the priority hazard. Selection of the issue for further investigation in the next step will depend on interest, work place needs, and the ability to collect some data for simple analysis.
STEP 3: Collect and analyse data, write the report and make some feasible recommendations relating to the issue you have investigated.	This should be a small dataset e.g in the above example the lab has 20 staff members. It does not matter if there are limitations as long as these are identified. The data collected could be related to exposure, effects, or both. Keep your report succint and make your recommendations as practicable as possible. Use your work in doing the previous 3 steps by including this in your final report. Submit your report to Management and ask for their written comment and feedback. This should be submitted with your hand-in at Step 4
STEP 4: Critical appraisal from supervisors and colleagues combining all the steps aboves resulting in a final finished product.	Hand in of final written report and Oral presentation of Work as part of the Final Examination

4-STEP PROJECT TIMETABLE

STEP 1: Identification of work place and work place description/characterization followed by a Hazard scan or Risk Assessment

The workplace description should be comprehensive, and include the flow of the work process from raw materials to finished products, psycho-social issues such as hostel dwelling, overtime worked, shiftwork, wages etc. Also the usual things like process, occupational health services and structures, number of workers.

If the workplace is very big this description can be limited to a part of it. A hospital or clinic is acceptable if students have problems finding another site.

During this step students are taught how to do a hazard scan. They apply this to the workplace or a part of it so that all classes of hazard are identified and prioritized according to a risk assessment method (which they have to describe). No measurements are done but if the workplace has done them in the past these measurements are included.

STEP 2:

A literature search will be conducted on one identified hazard and the selection of a particular hazard for more detailed investigation. During this step a short project protocol will be developed to measure and address the chosen hazard.

This is a simple protocol to ensure that obvious methodological issues are addressed and that the objective of the exercise is clear.

The intention is to improve the occupational health service and not to do research(i.e. it should be something that an occupational health service would do routinely in order to evaluate an issue and improve the service e.g. implementing a better housekeeping programme in an analytical lab and evaluating staff blood lead levels for decline after the changes).This does not have to be the priority hazard. Selection of the issue for further investigation in the next step will depend on interest, work place needs, and the ability to collect some data for simple analysis.

STEP 3: Collect and analyse data, write the report and make some feasible recommendations relating to the issue you have investigated.

This should be a small dataset e.g in the above example the lab has 20 staff members. It does not matter if there are limitations as long as these are identified. The data collected could be related to exposure, effects, or both.

Keep your report succint and make your recommendations as practicable as possible. Use your work in doing the previous 3 steps by including this in your final report.

Submit your report to Management and ask for their written comment and feedback. This should be submitted with your hand-in at Step 4

STEP 4: Critical appraisal from supervisors and colleagues combining all the steps aboves resulting in a final finished product.

Hand in of final written report and Oral presentation of Work as part of the Final Examination

Steps 1 through 3 will count 4 marks each (4 * 3 = 12), the final report 7 marks. This gives a total of 19 marks.

Marks for Steps 1 through 3 will be allocated as follows: 4 = Excellent; 3 = Complete; 2 = Progress; 1 = Markedly incomplete; 0 = not handed in on time

Marks for Final written report will be allocated as follows: 7 = Excellent; 5 = Good; 3 = Acceptable; 1 = Poor; 0 = Unacceptable or not handed in on time