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OSH40220

Academic Year 2026/2027

Occupational Hygiene (OSH40220)

Subject:
Occupational Safety&Health
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
7.5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Alison Connolly
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is concerned with the recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace hazards, including physical, chemical, and biological agents in the working environment. It will introduce exposure assessment strategies and practical control strategies and provide an in-person practical demonstration of monitoring equipment.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

Apply occupational hygiene approaches of anticipation, recognition, evaluation, monitoring, and control to identify health hazards or new and emerging hazards and evaluate solutions and controls.

Demonstrate a high level of knowledge of relevant literature and legislation and be able to critically analyse and justify the rationale for prevention and monitoring systems in current use or for updating systems/policies.

Demonstrate knowledge of the appropriate approach(es), equipment, and sampling strategies for measuring specific hazards and how to evaluate the controls used to mitigate the hazard.

Summarise and communicate occupational hygiene results to various audiences, including writing occupational hygiene reports.

Understand and be able to apply that the learning outcomes of this module are consistent with achieving the objectives of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 Good Health and SDG 8 Decent Work from an occupational health and well-being perspective.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to occupational hygiene, occupational hygiene management and case studies, principles of occupational hygiene (Identification, Evaluation and Control), exposure controls and baseline monitoring, occupational hygiene assessment, occupational hygiene practicals, air exposure and indoor air quality, thermal environment, noise, vibration, human biomonitoring and Ionising and non-ionising radiation

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Novice

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Novice

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Proficient

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Novice

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 5

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 5

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 5

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 5

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 5
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Online Learning

2
Total

168

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; enquiry & problem-based learning, lab work.


An AI Statement of Use is provided with this module, which explicitly outlines the permitted and forbidden uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for this module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
OSH40030 - Occupational Hygiene


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): The Occupational Hygiene Report will be due on the second week of Field Break. Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Occupational Hygiene Case Study Evaluation Week 14 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Student will receive a provisional individual grade in Brightspace within 20 working days of the submission date of the assignment (A, B, C etc. as per UCD grade descriptors). The grade will contribute to the student final’s grade for the module. Each student will receive an assignment feedback sheet on Brightspace.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Conor Buggy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 25 Fri 13:00 - 16:40
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 14:00 - 16:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 24 Fri 14:00 - 16:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 27 Fri 14:00 - 16:50
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