University of Alberta

Course Guide for SPH 520 Winter 2015

Occupational and Environmental Diseases Thursday, 9:00- 11:50 a.m. Room ECHA 1-457

Instructor:

Jeremy Beach 780-492-6291 [email protected] 5-30 University Terrace

Course Description

The course comprises a series of small group learning sessions which use a variety of teaching methods to introduce students to some of the fundamental concepts of occupational health, as well some of the health concerns, illnesses and injuries relevant to this field. The overlap with environmental health is also discussed

Objectives

To provide students with an understanding of the principles of occupational healthcare provision, and an introduction to the epidemiology, pathophysiology recognition, prevention and management of occupational and environmental disease in individuals and groups.

Competencies

On completion of the course students will:  Understand the legislative and regulatory framework in which occupational health and environmental health work in Alberta and Canada  Be able to Identify commonly used information sources ij occupational and environmental health  Understand the principles of prevention as they are applied to occupational and environmental health  Describe the more common work-related and environmentally related illnesses, their pathophysiology and epidemiology

Library Resources

The University of Alberta library system’s website www.library.ualberta.ca details the range of services offered to students on and off campus. If you need further information or assistance, contact the Library's Electronic Reference Desk at www.library.ualberta.ca/ereference/index.cfm or call 1-800-2070172. Recommended text: McDonald Corbett, ed. Epidemiology of Work-Related Diseases, 2 nd Ed.BMJ Publishing Group, London, 2000. ISBN 0-7279-1432-4. Can be consulted in the OH Library (5-30 University Terrace). Please do not remove; not on loan. LaDou Joseph, ed. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 4 th Ed.

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 2

Course Evaluation Mid-Point Course th Evaluation: Student presentations March 5 , 2014, and student’s written paper

based on their presentation to be submitted by March 19th, 2014.

Final Course Evaluation:

Final exam: April 23, 2014 @ 9:00 a.m.

Student Evaluation Assignment

Percentage 20 marks

Student presentation Paper from presentation

30 marks

Final exam

50 marks

Grading

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

Date March 5, 2014 To be handed in by March 19, 2014 April 23, 2014

See ‘Assignments and Marking Criteria’.

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 3

University of Alberta Calendar Section 23.4 Regulations and Information for Students Evaluation Procedures and Grading System The University of Alberta Grading System The University of Alberta uses a letter grading system with a four-point scale of numerical equivalents for calculating grade point averages. Grades reflect judgments of student achievement made by instructors. These judgments are based on a combination of absolute achievement and relative performance in a class. Some instructors assign grades as intervals during the course and others assign marks (e.g. percentages) throughout the term and then assign a letter grade at the end. Instructors must adapt their approaches to reflect the letter grading system. Grade distribution should reflect those shown in this document. (EXEC 03 FEB 2003) Descriptor Excellent

Good Satisfactory Failure

Academic Integrity

Grading in Graduate Courses Letter Grade Grade A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D F

Point Value 4.0 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0

Plagiarism is a serious offence. The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/CodeofStudentBehaviour) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. University of Alberta policy about course outline can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar. (GFC 29 SEP 2003)

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 4

DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE BY WEEK WEEK 1 January 8, 2014 Instructor: Jeremy Beach 1 The scope of occupational health and the incidence of Occupational Disease 2 An introduction to workplace hazards and risk assessment   

Be able to define occupational health and understand its scope and origins Recognize the main partners in the provision of occupational health Understand the importance of prevention in occupational health, and how this is implemented in practice

WEEK 2 January 15, 2014 Instructor: Jeremy Beach The framework for occupational health – law, ethics, and confidentiality   

Be aware of relevant law with regard to occupational and environmental health in Alberta and Canada Know the role of the main organisations involved in the provision of occupational health in Alberta and Canada. Know relevant sources of information that may be utilized when trying to properly assess and manage an occupational or environmental health problem

WEEK 3 January 22, 2014 Instructor: Jeremy Beach Work-related disease I – respiratory disease   

Appreciate the range of occupational lung disease Understand how the anatomy and physiology of the lung, the lungs response, and the characteristics of an exposure can contribute to the development of disease Know the main types of occupational asthma and their distribution and determinants

WEEK 4 January 29, 2014 1 Principles of workplace safety 2 Drugs, alcohol, and EFAPs    

Instructor: Jeremy Beach

Know the alternative approaches to Workplace health and safety Understand how process based and person based safety systems are intended to prevent incidents Appreciate the importance of risk assessment and risk management in injury prevention. Understand the role of activities including near miss incident reporting, audit, disaster planning determinants, etc in occupational health.

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 5

 

Understand how Employee and Family assistance Programs function and how they may contribute to employee wellness generally Understand how an EAP can assist when dealing with specific issues including workplace drug and alcohol programs and psychological health in the workplace.

WEEK 5 February 5, 2014 Instructor: Jeremy Beach/Sebastian Straube 1. Work-related disease II – skin disease 2. Work-related disease III - diseases from physical hazards    



Appreciate the range of occupational skin disease Understand how the anatomy and physiology of the skin and how the characteristics of an exposure can contribute to the development of disease Know the main types of occupational skin diseases and their distribution and determinants Appreciate the range of diseases that can arise from exposure to physical hazards in the workplace including: o Stochastic and non stochastic effects of ionizing radiation o Non-ionising radiation, light o Noise and vibration o Heat and cold Understand how exposure to these hazards can be quantified, and how this can help in risk assessment

WEEK 6 February 12, 2014 Environmental problems I  

Instructor: Jeremy Beach

Be able to describe one major environmental incident and the events leading up to it. Be able to describe the impact on health of that same incident and how that impact might have been prevented or mitigated Understand the risk factors for such incidents and how modifying these risk factors might reduce risk. FEBRUARY 17-20, 2014 – READING WEEK

WEEK 7 February 26, 2014 1. Reproductive hazards at work 2. Occupational cancers  

Instructor: Nicola Cherry

Know the major components of reproductive anatomy and physiology sufficient to be able to understand the potential mechanisms of repro-toxins. Understand the range of adverse reproductive outcomes and the difficulties in measuring them.

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 6

  

Be able to describe examples of each. Know the main types of work-related cancer and the workplace exposures that they are associated with. Be able to describe the mechanisms by which cancer is thought to occur

WEEK 8 March 5, 2014 Student presentations  

Instructor: Jeremy Beach/Sebastian Straube

Be able to concisely present the relevant facts about a selected occupational or environmental health issue and address questions from the audience Identify the common elements in the occupational or environmental health problems discussed and appreciate how understanding these can contribute to prevention

WEEK 9 March 12, 2014 1. Assessing fitness for work, disability 2. Surveillance and screening   

Be able to describe the situations where fitness to work assessments commonly occur, their limitations and their usefulness Describe where surveillance may be applicable and the principles underlying how this is determined Be able to define the importance of sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in terms of screening tests.

WEEK 10 March 19, 2014 Mental Health & Work Organization   

Instructor: Jeremy Beach

Instructor: Jeremy Beach

Appreciate the range of mental health problems that occur in the workplace or impact on work Describe the distribution and determinants of mental health problems in the workplace. Understand how mental health problems can impact fitness for work and how a workplace may facilitate return to work following mental health problems.

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 7

WEEK 11 March 26, 2014 Instructor: Jeremy Beach 1 Work-related diseases IV – infections 2 Travel and the care of expatriate workers 

  

Appreciate the range of work-related infections and the types of work that are associated with these infections. Understand terms such as sterilization, disinfection, saprophyte, parasite, commensal, opportunistic pathogen, and immunity. Understand the preventive measures that can be utilized to minimize the impact of these infections. Know how laboratories and the microbes they work with are classified to ensure that appropriate controls are in place when handling Appreciate the risks that expatriate workers incur when working away from their home country in terms of infections but also other hazards, and how these may be mitigated

WEEK 12 April 2, 2014 Instructor: Jeremy Beach/Sebastian Straube Work-related diseases V – musculoskeletal disorders   

Appreciate the range of different types of work-related musculoskeletal disorders that can occur. Know the main risk factors (including personal, ergonomic, and psychosocial) for developing these disorders and how they may be prevented. Understand how poor control of similar risk factors can contribute to difficulties with return to work and how return to work may be facilitated

WEEK 13 April 9, 2014 1 Environmental problems II 2 Wash-up session  

Instructor: Jeremy Beach

Understand some of the general principles to follow when assessing environmental hazards. Review main learning objectives of course and reinforce where helpful.

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 8

 Schedule at a Glance Date Jan 8

Topic  

Jan 15

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Jan 22 Jan 29

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Feb 5

Feb 12 Feb 17-20 Feb 26

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Mar 5 Mar 12

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Mar 19 Mar 26

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Apr 2

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Apr 9

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The scope of occupational health and the incidence of Occupational Disease An introduction to workplace hazards and risk assessment The framework for occupational health – law, ethics, and confidentiality Work-related disease I – respiratory disease Principles of workplace safety Drugs, alcohol, and EFAPs Work-related disease II – skin disease Work-related diseases III – disease from physical hazards Environmental problems I READING WEEK Reproductive hazards at work Occupational cancers Student presentations Assessing fitness for work, disability Surveillance and screening Mental health and work organization Work-related diseases IV – infections Travel and the care of expatriate workers Work-related diseases V – musculoskeletal disorders Environmental problems II Wash-up session

SPH520 - 2015 Course Syllabus

Instructor

Assignment

JB

JB JB JB JB/SS

JB NC JB/SS JB JB JB JB/SS JB

University of Alberta, School of Public Health Page 9