STIC - Engineering:
Workplace
(Module 3)
Engineering
Concepts  and Health and Safety Issues
(Topic 6)
Content
In order to prepare for this lesson, the facilitator should be familiar
with engineering concepts and related health and safety concerns. It
is also important to be very familiar with the article used as an introduction.
Delivery
Make as many copies as necessary of the following handouts  :
- Handout 1 P.Engs. and Workplace Safety
- Handout 2 Engineering Concepts Categorization Activity
- Handout 3 Generic Engineering Concepts and Health & Safety
Issues
- Handout 4A-D Discipline-specific Health & Safety
Issues
- Handout 5 Summary Chart
- Terminology List (optional)
Prepare a list on chart paper of engineering health and safety issues
(see Facilitator's Notes, Pre-Task 2). Methodology
Introduction
(10 minutes)
1. Review briefly the WHMIS lesson from
the previous session, stressing that WHMIS is legally required for all
employees, but that engineers have specific health and safety concerns
related to their professional practice.
2. Facilitate a class discussion by asking participants how
they applied health and safety rules in their last job as part of their
professional responsibilities.
Pre-Tasks
1. (30 minutes)
Explain to the class that there have
been some changes in the role of public health and safety within the
engineering profession. Distribute Handout 1. Pair the participants
and assign one of the following questions to each pair. How is the Ministry of Labour changing its role in health
and safety?
What are the implications for private-sector engineers?
Have them scan for this information as they are reading. Participants
should try and determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary using context
clues and try to use this vocabulary when answering the above questions.
To conclude this activity, discuss the role of the PEO as mentioned in
the article.
2. (20 minutes)
Brainstorm as a whole class some safety "topics" that
would be applicable to engineers (e.g., fire safety, radiation control,
chemical-process safety). Group participants according to discipline
and have them list on chart paper safety topics that are applicable to
their discipline. After ten minutes show the following list of safety
topics (on chart paper) and have participants expand their list: Safety Topics
- Ergonomics / Biomechanics
- Materials Handling and Warehousing
- Machine Safety, Controls, and Displays
- Electrical Safety and Lockout
- Mechanical Handling Systems
- Automated Systems and Robotics
- Slips and Falls
- Confined Spaces
- Industrial Hygiene
- Chemical Process Safety
- Hand and Power Tools
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Fire Protection
- Life Safety
- Construction Safety
- Transportation Safety
- System Safety Techniques
- Product Safety
Remind the participants that they should be prepared to explain the
reasons for their choices. Have the groups share their lists; they should
justify their answers and provide examples (i.e., "___________ is important
because.").
3. (10 minutes)
Participants should now work in mixed-discipline
groups. Mention that industrial engineers and mechanical engineers
have the most to do with health and safety. Distribute Handout 2, a list
of engineering concepts with which participants will be very familiar. Explain that some of these concepts are generic and others are discipline
specific. Have participants identify the generic concepts and make a
list on the board.
4. (10 minutes)
Distribute Handout 3 and have the participants
work in pairs to match generic engineering concepts with related health
and safety issues. Take up as a whole class. Task
1. (10 minutes)
Regroup participants by disciplines.
Refer participants back to the list of engineering concepts in Handout
2 and have them circle the concepts that are relevant to their discipline.
2. (15 minutes)
After deciding which concepts are relevant
to their discipline, have participants discuss what specific health
and safety issues would be related to each concept that they selected.
Give the participants fifteen minutes to discuss and share knowledge
gained from prior work experience and training.
Post-Tasks
(20 minutes)
1. Distribute Handouts 4A, B, C, D to
participants in the appropriate discipline groups. Explain that this
is a matching activity that is similar to the previous one but related
to their discipline. Have the participants share their answers within
their group. The Chemical Engineering handout is not extensive. Have
this group review the WHMIS / MSDS post-task activity, since it would
be relevant to them. Encourage them to discuss the health and safety
issues they dealt with in their previous engineering workplaces, using
the terminology covered in this lesson and the previous one.
2. Distribute Handout 5, which provides a summary of
the information presented in this lesson.
 Downloads
All downloads are in Adobe Acrobat
PDF.
Download a print version of the above lesson plan and related
materials.
Workplace: Topic 6
[190 KB, 20 pages]
Download the complete Facilitator's Guide and Participant's Workbook.
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