Course Objectives

The objectives are to:

  1. Provide an understanding of occupational health concepts and risk factors associated with various workplaces.
  2. Equip students with skills to identify and prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.
  3. Familiarize students with laws and standards for ensuring workplace safety.
  4. Develop competencies in disaster risk assessment, planning, and management.
  5. Prepare students to work collaboratively as part of a disaster management team.

Overall Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the basic concept of occupational health.
  2. Recognize risk factors for injuries in different working environments.
  3. Associate occupations with specific risk factors for injuries or illnesses.
  4. Describe major steps for preventing risks in the workplace.
  5. Apply laws and industrial safety standards in workplaces.
  6. Create job safety analyses using injury and risk factor data.
  7. Coordinate stakeholders' activities during emergency response operations.
  8. Employ planning strategies to mitigate and recover from disasters.
  9. Participate constructively as a member of a disaster management team at disaster sites.

Detailed Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Occupational Health

  • History and evolution of occupational health in Nigeria and globally.
  • Overview of occupational health problems in various industries and occupations.
  • Target organs and systems affected by workplace hazards.

Module 2: Workplace Safety and Risk Prevention

  • Identification and management of health hazards, including new environmental pollutants.
  • Steps for risk prevention and early detection of impairments in the workplace.
  • Workplace safety legislations and compliance with industrial standards.
  • Job safety analysis: principles and methods.

Module 3: Disaster and Emergency Management

  • Overview of disaster types: natural, industrial, and complex emergencies.
  • Phases of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
  • Hazard mitigation risk assessment and disaster declaration processes.
  • Planning for disasters such as floods, windstorms, landslides, and building collapses.

Module 4: Disaster Response and Recovery

  • Emergency response procedures and action plans.
  • Operations at disaster management centers and disaster sites.
  • Managing humanitarian crises during and after disasters.
  • Post-disaster recovery processes and strategies.

Teaching/Learning Methods

  • Lectures and class discussions.
  • Case studies on workplace hazards and disaster scenarios.
  • Industrial visits to observe safety measures and risk factors.
  • Disaster simulation exercises and emergency response drills.

Modes of Assessment

  • Continuous Assessment (assignments, quizzes, and presentations): 40%
  • Final Examination: 60%

Reading List/References

Primary Texts

  1. Stellman, J. M. (2019). Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety (4th ed.). ILO Publications.
  2. Alexander, D. E. (2021). Principles of Emergency Planning and Management (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Supplementary Texts

  1. Levy, B. S., Wegman, D. H., Baron, S. L., & Sokas, R. K. (2017). Occupational and Environmental Health: Recognizing and Preventing Disease and Injury (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  2. Coppola, D. P. (2020). Introduction to International Disaster Management (4th ed.). Elsevier.

Additional Resources

  • International Labour Organization (ILO) Resources on Occupational Safety (www.ilo.org/safety)
  • WHO Framework for Emergency Preparedness and Response (www.who.int/emergencies/preparedness)