Newcastle University

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Course can be CPD course

This module aims to provide students with the fundamental principles and concepts of how biological hazards encountered in biopharmaceutical and processes involving biological entities can lead to health and safety risks. The module equips students with the competency to design, engineer and operate inherently safer plants involving biological agents. In the second part of the module, it also aims to introduce how chemicals, biological entities and environmental factors can lead to ill health and safety in the workplace. The module further equips students with the competency to design and implement engineering controls and safe working systems and practices to ensure safe and healthy environments for employees and the community.

Outline Of Syllabus

1.       Introduction to biological hazards involving microorganisms, animal cells and tissues, genetically modified organisms and viruses
2.       Biological agent group classification and legislation governing biological agents
3.       Dispersion of microorganisms and route of infection
4.       Analytical methods for detecting and identifying biological agents
5.       Aseptic techniques, contamination control and containment
6.       Thermal inactivation, disinfection, irradiation and other contamination control methods
7.       Inherently safer bioreactor design and operation
8.       Occupational health associated with exposure to chemicals, dust, and physical hazards such as electromagnetic hazards, noise, vibration, heat, working at height, extreme conditions and confined spaces, and manual handling
9.       Acute and chronic toxicology, LD, LC, lethal dose and TLVs STELs
10.       Fatigue, psychological and social stress
11.       Biomedical health measurement techniques
12.       Human Factor and Organisational Behaviour when exposed to extreme working conditions
13.       Occupied building and safe building design and operation including industrial hygiene, ventilation, containment, safety appliances, personal protection equipment and ergonomics
14.       Safe System of Work

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module, students should be able to:
•       Explain how escape of biological agents can cause health risks to employees and the community
•       Describe and explain the regulatory requirement for containing and controlling biological agents
•       Describe and explain how occupational exposure to hazards and working environment can lead to disease, injury and ill health
•       Evaluate and identify the difference between acute and chronic toxicity
•       Describe and explain fatigue, psychological and social stress in human behaviour

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module, students should be able to:
•       Apply concepts and principles learnt about the hazard group to design and formulate safe operating procedures for an inherently safer biological process
•       Apply concepts and principles learnt about the hazard group to design inherently safer bioreactor and bioprocesses
•       Evaluate and design methods for the appropriate handling and disposal of different classes of biological agents
•       Design methods for contamination control and containment
•       Evaluate and identify health risks in different work environment
•       Quantify and evaluate exposure leading to acute and chronic conditions
•       Formulate safe work environment and procedure to reduce health risks
•       Formulate Safe System of Work

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The teaching is mainly via lectures and tutorial with small group discussions during class. This is complemented with self-study and preparation of tutorial solutions, class test and final examination in order to provide feedback on student learning. Teaching materials are made available to the students online in order for self-study and preparation in their own pace. Tutorial classes enable students to ask questions and clarify any doubts.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written exam enables students to demonstrate understanding and apply knowledge and skills learnt to solving engineering problems. Coursework assignment provide students more time to think about larger problem and provide engineering solutions to it and present it in a written report.

General Notes

N/A