OT2004 - Ergonomics and Occupational Performance at Work

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	Sch Public Health,Trop Medicine&Rehabilitation Sc

Available to level 2 Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy IHCAP, Occupational Therapy Post Qualification and Occupational Therapy Honours students and level 2 students in other health science disciplines approved by the head of Occupational Therapy.

This subject provides an overview, application and competencies of ergonomics, occupational health and safety. The relevant legislation is identified and explored in relation to principles of risk management, job auditing and occupational health and safety management systems. Common work related injuries are revised to enable development of occupational rehabilitation including functional capacity evaluation, assessing job and workplace demands (environmental factors, physical, psychosocial, mental and cognitive effects on workload), work conditioning and devising graduated return to work programs and ergonomic manipulation such as workplace modifications.Ergonomics applies knowledge acquired in first and second year basic science subjects to enable the therapist to relate ergonomics to musculo-skeletal effort, physiological demand, endurance, posture and tool use.Students may be required to undertake clinical placement in a facility away from the campus at which they are currently enrolled, at their own expense.

Learning Outcomes

• ability to identify risks within the workplace and make recommendations to improve safety;
• ability to apply knowledge of workplace injuries, rehabilitation and ergonomics in the return to work of injured workers;
• knowledge of the key legislative requirements of workplace rehabilitation and occupational health and safety;
• ability to use principles of ergonomics to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury at work.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to manage future career and personal development;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies.

Prerequisites:

OT2006 and RH2001

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 25-Aug-2011
Coordinator:	Mrs Louise Myles
Lecturers:	Mrs Kerry Garbutt, Mrs Louise Myles.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 26 hours workshops/Seminars 20 hours fieldwork
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); other exams (20%); assignments (20%); learning plan (10%).
Special Assessment Requirements:	Successful completion of fieldwork education placement. Must achieve 40% or over on final written exam.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.