Affiliated Training Courses

“The Effect of Smelter Emissions on Worker Respiratory Health”

This innovative 4-year multidisciplinary industry partnership study will evaluate the effect of exposure to heavy metals and irritant gases on the respiratory health of smelter workers using a retrospective and prospective study design.

The major outcomes of this leading-edge industry-based multidisciplinary study are expected to be recommendations on workplace risk controls and a medical surveillance program to protect the respiratory health of the smelter workers. The study will inform the metalliferous manufacturing industry and address the systematic failure to diagnose and control respiratory conditions. As an above-compliance measure, this will be of benefit to workers, industry and the community generally, given the broad potential scope of recommendations.
Faculty: The position will be based in the faculties of ASSH (Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities)/SMAH (Science, Medicine and Health) at the University of Wollongong (UOW)

Study area: Occupational Medicine; Medical Science; Respiratory Health; Exercise Science; Occupational Hygiene; Occupational Health and Safety
Student type: Domestic students/Current students; Future students, Full time

Scholarship Value: The successful candidate will receive a tax-free stipend of $148,224 ($37,056 per annum tax free over 4 years), plus travel and expenses paid for field work in Northern Queensland for at least 3 site visits of approx. 3 weeks duration in total.

Application process Applicants wishing to be considered for this scholarship should email a cover letter and their latest CV (including qualifications, relevant experience, and authored publications) to Jane Whitelaw.

Eligibility requirements To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must:
-Be an Australian resident
-Have quantitative research and statistical analysis capabilities, good written and verbal communication skills and, and
-Have good organisational skills and demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferable qualifications include an Honours or Masters by research degree in Science, Medicine or Exercise Science; experience in project management and/or an understanding of respiratory health.

This five day course is targeted to those with a foundational and intermediate knowledge of occupational hygiene. It has been designed for occupational hygienists or suitably qualified occupational hygiene technicians (AIOH Basic Principles, Ventilation Officer IFAP or similar) who wish to extend their knowledge base in the area of mining and mineral processing.

The course aims to provide specialist information relating to processes and workplace situations likely to arise in the mining and mineral processing industries. It provides guidance as to how those situations can be assessed and managed.

The course also incorporates three half day CES sessions:

• Occupational health risk assessment
• Heat stress assessment and management
• Statistics of hygiene

Additional topics to be covered include:

• History of mining and mineral processing
• Summary of relevant processes
• Equipment and associated hazards
• Hazards of mining, processing and refining
• Physical hazards and intrinsic safety
• Communication and record keeping

BOHS IP402 Course –The course will cover the theory and practical aspects of planning and undertaking asbestos surveys in buildings of various types, and the safe and representative sampling of all types of asbestos materials. Delegates will be trained to produce reports incorporating material and priority risk assessments and make appropriate remedial recommendations to their clients.

Outcomes

• Have a clear understanding of the requirements relating to safe management of asbestos in buildings and be able to communicate appropriately with colleagues and clients.
• Be able to describe the uses of asbestos in buildings and the public health risk these might pose and understand the principles of and requirements for asbestos surveys.
• Understand the risk assessment and risk management strategies and their role in reducing health risks.
• Have a detailed knowledge of the approved methods for sampling of bulk asbestos along with the situations where segregation may be required. In addition candidates must have a good understanding of suitable PPE/RPE to be used and the methods for personal decontamination.
• Understand how to carry out surveys to identify the presence of asbestos and its type in different locations including:
• Understand of buildings and their structures
• Surveying and sampling techniques
• Safety requirements for surveying
• Post survey evaluation

The course is designed to offer candidates the practical knowledge and skills to be able to manage asbestos in buildings and give a knowledge base to audit asbestos removal projects.

The course is also useful for those that are responsible for managing asbestos in a building or estates that have no real experience within the asbestos industry.

Course Content

The course covers the basics of surveying of buildings for the presence of asbestos, bulk sampling and general guidance on management procedures necessary to minimise exposure to identified asbestos. The course covers a broad range of asbestos related matters including the nature of asbestos, its properties and health effects, asbestos in buildings, asbestos management plans & strategies, the roles of asbestos surveyors, contractors and analysts.  The course includes a full range of PowerPoint presentations, video, accompanying notes and additional course materials.

In addition to classroom-based tutorials, delegates undergo practical assessments and role playing which helps combine all aspects of the course and helps give the candidate an overview of the situations that they may experience on site.

W501 Course – W501 Course – Online and in person (Perth). Are you looking to expand your knowledge of sampling? This course will cover:

RISK ASSESSMENT – CALCULATIONS – INTERPRETATION - PRESENTATION OF RESULTS - WORK THROUGH A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL SCENARIOS

It is an instructor-led in-person (Perth) and online course. The ICertOH qualification is approved by the AIOH as an alternative to a university qualification, in gaining full AIOH membership. The W501 course is part of the core modules for ICertOH certification.

Outcomes

• Describe the general approach to health risk assessment, including the role of atmospheric monitoring.
• Select appropriate equipment to measure specific airborne contaminants and devise a suitable sampling strategy.
• Present the results for health risk assessment purposes to comply with relevant legislation.
• The syllabus has been structured to cover seven sections:
  • Risk Assessment
  • Air Sampling Theory and Practice
  • Air Sampling Equipment
  • Sample Analysis
  • Hygiene Standards
  • Biological Monitoring
  • Calculation, Interpretation and Presentation of Results