Factors affecting the permanence of occupational health and safety topics in engineering courses.
Authors
Gute-DM; Rossignol-AM; Hanes-NB; Talty-JT
Source
J Eng Edu 1993 Jul; 82(3):163-166
Abstract
The permanence of NIOSH funded curricula changes made to enhance the level of occupational health and safety resource material at the Tufts University College of Engineering was assessed. Faculty designed lectures, case studies, and laboratory materials focusing on occupational health and safety were added to several required courses during the 1985 to 1986 academic year. The feasibility and short term effectiveness of this strategy was assessed at the end of the academic year through the use of faculty interviews. Longer term effectiveness was evaluated via faculty interview in April 1991. The interviews in 1991 were designed to determine whether the subject materials introduced in the 1985 to 1986 academic year were still in use, what factors influenced the use of the materials, and whether occupational health and safety instruction had been extended into research activities. Occupational health and safety material was added to 11 classes for the 1985 to 1986 academic year, and was still included in the curricula of nine courses during the 1990 to 1991 academic year. Seven of these courses used the original (or updated) material introduced in 1985 to 1986. The major reasons cited for terminating the use of this material were insufficient room in the course curriculum and unavailability of suitable teaching materials. The authors conclude that this investigation may be useful as a model for adding course work on occupational health and safety at other engineering schools.
Keywords
Education; Safety-education; Teaching; Occupational-health; Safety-engineering; Health-engineering; Occupational-safety-programs
Document Type
Journal Article
Source Name
Journal of Engineering Education
