Duration:                                                  4 years

Actual Credit Load:                                 480

Minimum Credit Load:                            480

Maximum Credit Load:                           540

MBKS Credit Load:                                384

ZNQF Level:                                           8

1.0   PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

1.1 The programme is tailor-made to meet the environmental safety, health, and quality management needs of Zimbabwe and the world at large. It intends to equip students with both theoretical and practical skills that are relevant to safety, health and the environment in various industries, institutions and organisations. This will be achieved through:

1.1.1  Imparting knowledge that links safety, health, quality and environmental theories and practice.

1.1.2  Development of knowledge and skills to manage existing and new projects through the participation of target stakeholders and institutions.

1.1.3  Development of skills that enable students to realize and apply new technologies to the changing demands coming from the rapidly expanding productive and consumption sectors of the globalised world economies.

1.1.4  The formulation and conducting of research that promotes safe, environmentally friendly and people-centred development at community, institutional, national, regional and international levels.

1.1.5  The provision of opportunities to study aspects of safety, health, quality and environmental management in various sectors of employment.

2.0   ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

2.1 For all entry pathways candidates must have at least five Ordinary Level subjects/ National Foundation Certificates including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject at grade C or better.

2.1.1 Normal Entry:  A pass in Advanced Level Geography and any other Advanced Level subject AND 5 Ordinary Level passes/ National Foundation Certificates including Mathematics and English Language OR National Certificate.

2.1.2 Special Entry: National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Environmental Science.

3.0   PROGRAMME CHARACTERISTICS

3.1 Areas of Study:  Environmental Sciences; Occupational Safety and Health; Quality Management; Geo-Information Sciences.

3.2 Specialist Focus: Environmental safety, health and quality management systems.

3.3 Orientation: Research and innovation-oriented. Teaching and learning are professionally oriented and focused on practical aspects.

3.4 Distinctive Features: The programme builds the research-technology-innovation-management continuum and focuses on heritage-based knowledge development using a student-centred approach.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

4.1 Employability:   Careers in: environmental management; research institutions; positions in academia; safety, health and environmental consultancy; application of geo-information science; occupational safety and health; environmental planning; public agencies; start-ups.

4.2 Further Studies: Master and Doctoral studies in Environmental Safety, Health and Quality Management.

5.0   PROGRAMME DELIVERY

5.1 Teaching and Learning Methods: Lectures, tutorials, laboratory activities, seminars, group work, field-based activities, work-related learning, dissertation, individual independent study.

5.2 Assessment Methods: Written and oral examinations, tests, written and practical assignments, laboratory reports, field reports, seminar presentations, work-related learning reports, research projects, and continuous assessment.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Module                                                                                                        Credits

Level 1 Semester 1

ESH 131 Introduction to Environmental Safety and Health                                                  12

ESH 132 Fundamentals of Quality Management                                                                  12

ESH 133 Basic Science for Occupational Health Practice                                                    12

   CS 131 Basic Communication Skills                                                                                 12

HCS 135 Introduction to Information Technology                                                               12

Level 1 Semester 2

ESH 134 Occupational Hazards and Accident Prevention                                                    12

ESH 135 Environmental Safety and Health Management Systems                                      12

ESH 136 Quality Management Systems                                                                               12

ESH 137 Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Management                                     12

ESH 138 Environmental Safety and Health Legislation                                                       12

Level 2 Semester 1

ESH 231 Occupational Hygiene                                                                                            12

ESH 232 Quality Management Implementation in Industry                                                 12

ESH 233 Environmental Safety and Health Inspections                                                       12

GSSS 231 Gender Studies for Social Sciences                                                                     12                     

ENT 131 Entrepreneurship                                                                                                    12

Level 2 Semester 2

ESH 234 Research Methods                                                                                                  12

ESH 235 Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing 1                                      12

ESH 236 Environmental Safety, Health and Quality Auditing                                             12        

ESH 237 Emergency and Disaster Preparedness                                                                  12

ESH 238 Waste Management                                                                                                12

Level 3 Semester 1

ESH 330 Work Related Learning Placement Report                                                            40

Level 3 Semester 2

ESH 331 Industrial Attachment/ Work Related Learning Report                                         30                     

ESH 332 Academic Supervisor Report                                                                                 20        

ESH 333 Work Supervisor Report                                                                                        30

Level 4 Semester 1

ESH 431 Customer Satisfaction and Complaints Handling                                                  12

ESH 432 Climate Change and Occupational Hazards                                                           12

ESH 433 Ergonomics                                                                                                12

ESH 434 Confined Workplace Environmental Safety and Health                                        12

ESH 435 Behaviour Based Safety                                                                                         12

Level 4 Semester 2

Students should take the Research Project and any two electives from the modules listed below:

ESH 436 Research Project                                                                                        36

ESH 437 Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing II                                     12        

ESH 438 Food Safety and Quality Management                                                                   12

ESH 439 Environmental Pollution and Control                                                                    12

ESH 440 Fire Safety                                                                                                              12

ESH 441 Radiation Management                                                                                          12        

ESH 442 Electric Safety                                                                                                        12

14.0           MODULE SYNOPSES 

ESH 131 Introduction to Environmental Safety and Health   

The module covers the broad spectrum of occupational safety and health. Students are introduced to principles of environmental safety and health and hazardous work environmental factors.                                    

ESH 132 Fundamentals of Quality Management

The module covers the broad spectrum of occupational quality management. Students are introduced to aspectsof quality management such as quality planning; quality assurance; quality control and quality management.

ESH 133 Basic Science for Occupational Health Practice

The module prepares students for basic inevitable science issues they will deal with in successive modules. Key focus areas include definitions of occupational health-related terms, human anatomy and physiology (respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive systems), states of matter, physical and chemical properties of workplace contaminants, exposure pathways and metabolism of elements.         

CS 131Basic Communication Skills

Refer to the Department of Communication Skills.                                                                          

HCS 135 Introduction to Information Technology                               

Refer to the Department of Information Systems.          

ESH 134 Occupational Hazards and Accident Prevention

The module examines the nature and types of environmental safety and health hazards. Examination of how accidents occur; the domino sequence of management and the benefits of accident prevention are key concepts that are also covered.                                             

ESH 135 Environmental Safety and Health Management Systems

The module focuses on the types and purpose of environmental safety and health management systems; procedures of implementing specific environmental safety and health management systems and the benefits of environmental safety and health management systems in organisations.                                   

ESH 136 Quality Management Systems

The module examines formalised systems that document processes; procedures and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. Focus on environmental safety and health management systems is made on the benefits of a quality management system such as the ISO 9001standard.                                                                          

ESH 137 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Management Students are exposed to the whole process of identifying and analysing potential events that may negatively impact people, assets and or the environment. Focus is also on risk analysis, risk evaluation and the risk control hierarchy.                 

ESH 138 Environmental Safety and Health Legislation                       

The module outlines the legislation governing environmental health and safety at local, national and international levels in various sectors of the economy. The focus is on international and national legislation whose primary objective is the protection of the environment and the safety and health of workers.

ESH 231 Occupational Hygiene

Anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling environmental factors or stressors arising in or from the workplace are key aspects that are discussed. The module also focuses on chronic as well as acute conditions emanating from hazards posed by physical chemical and biological agents as well as stress.                                                                                        

ESH 232Quality Management and Implementation in Industry

The module focuses on the improvement of quality and performance in all functions; departments and processes across the organization to provide quality services which exceed customer expectations. The steps to creating a total quality management system for specific industries are explored.

ESH 233 Environmental Safety and Health Inspections         

Focuses on the purpose of environmental safety and health inspections, types of inspections, benefits of inspections and inspection reports in different environments. The module examines the systematic procedure for identifying actual as well as potential health and safety hazards at various workplaces before accidents occur that could involve people, equipment, materials and the environment.                                     

GSSS 231 Gender Studies for Social Sciences

Refer to the Faculty Regulations.                 

ENT 235 Entrepreneurship                                                                                               

Refer to the Department of Entrepreneurship. 

ESH 234 Research Methods

The module introduces students to the essential elements of the scientific research process, research designs, quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis and interpretation, results dissemination and ethical issues in research.                                                                                                     

ESH 235 Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing I

Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing: GIS components, GIS and CAD, data capture, spatial data models and structures; raster–vector debate, spatial databases, spatial analysis and modelling functions; Remote Sensing Systems, image processing, image interpretation, geo-referencing, GIS and Remote Sensing Integration, demonstration of use and functionality of software packages.        

ESH 236 Environmental Safety, Health and Quality Auditing            

The module examines the structured process relating to the efficiency effectiveness and reliability of an organisation’s environmental safety health and quality management system. The focus is also on the design of safety plans and corrective actions to be undertaken.    

ESH 237 Emergency and Disaster Preparedness

The module examines the potentially hazardous situations that may occur in the organisation. These relate to natural disasters, industrial accidents, chemical spills, radiation exposure and public health emergencies such as pandemics. Disaster preparedness procedures are also explored.                                                             

ESH 238 Waste Management                                                                                            

The module explores the approaches used in the management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid and liquid waste and measures for improving the efficiency of waste management strategies. It also covers the framework for waste management, sound practices, comparative solid waste management and waste management and GIS.

ESH330 Work-Related- Learning Placement Report

The students will submit a comprehensive work placement report which shows their understanding of the organisation placed.

ESH331 Work- Related Learning Report

As part of the examination, the students will be required to submit a comprehensive academic report of their work-related learning experience to the department and it will be marked and awarded a mark that will be ratified by the departmental examinations board.

ESH332 Work-Related Academic Supervisor’s Report

As part of the examination, the students will be assessed and awarded a mark by the academic supervisor and this will be presented to the departmental examinations board for processing of final marks.

ESH333 Work-Related Learning Supervisor’s Report

The employer will assess the student and award a mark which will be presented to the departmental examinations board for processing of final marks.

ESH 431 Customer Satisfaction and Complaints Handling

 The module explores the customer focus principle as the hub of quality. Focus areas include methods of obtaining customer requirements and planning to meet them. The second part deals with methods of monitoring customer satisfaction during and post-product or service delivery. It equips the student with complaints-handling skills and corrective actions to prevent recurrence including feedback to the customer. The application of iSO 1002 in handling complaints is also examined.                       

ESH 432 Climate Change and Occupational Hazards

The module focuses on the impact of industrial pollution on climate change. It quantifies industrial pollution and examines the effectiveness of current legislation in ameliorating the impact.The module examines how climate change may increase the occurrence and severity of some existing occupational hazards and how this could lead to new unanticipated risks.

ESH 433 Ergonomics

The relationship between people’s work and the physical environment is explored. The focus is on the scientific aspects of ergonomics such as anthropometry and biometrics; technological design; workspace design; environmental design and work situation design.                                    

ESH 434 Confined Workplace Environmental Safety and Health

Confined workspace hazards; confined workspace safety precautions; key elements of safe confined spaces; how to reduce risks associated with confined spaces and management. The module establishes safety requirements for all work conducted within confined spaces.        

ESH 435 Behaviour-Based Safety

The modulefocuses on the identification and prevention of environmental and safety hazards emanating from human behaviour; the ABC model of behaviour change; the hierarchy of safety controls; barriers to behaviour-based safety management and benefits of behaviour-based safety management.

ESH 436 Research Project     

Students are to prepare and present a dissertation based on the concepts learnt theoretically and in the field. The guidelines for the dissertation are based on the basic skills of research and report writing which include the development of a research problem, formulation of research objectives, research methodology, data analysis, results and discussion, conclusion and recommendations.

ESH 437 Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing II

The module explores the applied dimensions of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing, GIS application development cycle, application in environmental management, natural resources management, utility management, hazard management, land use planning, business and commerce.                                 

ESH 438 Food Safety and Quality Management

The module examines the conditions and measures to ensure the safety and quality of food from production to consumption. The focus is on food safety management systems, food handling, labelling and packaging, specifications as well as hazard analysis critical control points study.      

ESH 439 Environmental Pollution and Control

The module aims to broaden and deepen the students’ understanding of environmental pollution measurement, monitoring and mitigation. It analyses pollution impacts on the environment (water, air, soil), abatement practices and strategies, the legislative framework and the application of appropriate tools and technologies in pollution control and management.             

ESH 440 Fire Safety

The module focuses on common fire hazards; fire safety rules and the prevention of fire-related injuries in workplaces.  The focus is on how to develop a fire safety management plan that outlines arrangements for implementing, controlling, monitoring and reviewing fire safety standards as well as ensuring statistics are well maintained.

ESH 441 Radiation Management

The module focuses on safe precautionary measures put in place to promote safety in radiation-prone environments. This includes the development of a radiation plan to provide information and establish general procedures on the proper use and handling of radioactive materials.                                                    

ESH 442 Electric Safety                                                                           

The module examines the electric hazards emanating from the work environment and the organisational measures and technical means to prevent harmful and dangerous effects on workers. The focus is on the development of an effective electric management system that reduces the risk of harm from electricity by ensuring all the key elements that provide safety assurance are identified and addressed.