Skip to main content
Unit of study_

ENGG5103: Safety Systems and Risk Analysis

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

To develop an understanding of principles of safety systems management and risk management, as applied to engineering systems. AS/NZS 4801:2001 and 4804:2001 form the foundation for teaching methods of developing, implementing, monitoring and improving a safety management system in an Engineering context. Students will be exposed to a number of case studies related to safety systems and on completion of the course be able to develop a safety management plan for an Engineering facility that meets the requirements of NSW legislation and Australian standards for Occupational Health and Safety management systems. Students are introduced to a variety of risk management approaches used by industry, and methods to quantify and estimate the consequences and probabilities of risks occurring, as applied to realistic industrial scenarios.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ENGG5103
Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rod Fiford, rod.fiford@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Rod Fiford, rod.fiford@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release) Type E final exam hurdle task Final examination
Formal open book exam. Note students must pass exam to pass the unit!
30% Formal exam period 48 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Case study report
Formal written case study report - see Canvas for more details.
20% Week 04
Due date: 05 Sep 2021 at 23:59
2250-2750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Online task group assignment Hazard identification/risk assessment task
Hazard identification/risk assessment task - 100% late penalty.
10% Week 07 90 minutes during your tutorial session
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Safety management system plan
Formal written safety management plan - see Canvas for more details
20% Week 09
Due date: 15 Oct 2021 at 23:59
Generally 20-30 pages plus appendices
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Site inspection task
Report on virtual video site inspection
10% Week 11
Due date: 29 Oct 2021 at 23:59
Max 10 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Incident investigation exercise/report
Formal written report - incident investigation
10% Week 13
Due date: 12 Nov 2021 at 23:59
Max 10 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type E final exam = Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

Case study report: Case study analyzing failures of safety systems in a major industrial incident.

Hazard identification/risk assessment task: Group (2-4) task to write risk assessment for two given scenarios

Safety management system plan: Group task (2-4) to develop safety managment plan for chosen company

Site inspection task: Group task (2-4) to write report identifying potential issues in video recording of site.

Incident investigation exercise/report: Group task (2-4) to develop report investigating a hypothetical workplace incident.

Final examination: Two hour open book exam submitted online. Note students MUST pass the exam to pass the unit of study.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Note that Sparkplus will be used for self and peer assessment for all group work activities and individual student marks may be adjusted according to Sparkplus results.

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Hazard ID risk assessment task is held during timetabled tutorial and 100% late penalty applies.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Out of class group-work and collaboration. Independent study (20 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Ongoing Student independent research & study -5 hours per week Individual study (65 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 01 Introduction to course, what is an accident and are all accidents preventable? Lecture (4 hr) LO1
Week 02 How do accidents happen? Introduction to hazard and safety risk management procedures Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 03 AS/NZS/ISO 45001 Standard for WHS management systems Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Human factors in safety systems management Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4
Week 05 Safety management planning Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 Major hazards legislation and management Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 07 Commonly used hazard and risk management approaches Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2
Week 08 Auditing safety management systems and performing safety inspections Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 09 Estimating/quantifying probabilities and consequences of incidents Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO5
Week 10 Creating a positive "just" workplace safety culture Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 11 Learning from past incidents, incident investigation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 12 Case studies Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Course material revision Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

AS/NZS/ISO 45001 Standard.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand, influence and incorporate the concept of safety and quality management systems and AS/NZS/ISO standards to safety management systems design
  • LO2. understand and practically apply industry standards and show their fundamental relevance to an effective safety management system
  • LO3. develop and use a systematic method of decision making as applicable to a task or project specification
  • LO4. appreciate and understand the basis of human factors component used in decision making and systems development
  • LO5. understand and incorporate the concepts of safety management systems and the use of predictive techniques such as risk assessment to justify and develop strategic management systems
  • LO6. write a concise, technical engineering report based on case study in safety management.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Some assessment task weightings altered slightly.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.