Credits: (4-0-4)

Course Description: Discussion of the relationship between traditional safety engineering and human factors or ergonomics. Examination of man-machine interfaces relative to people's capabilities and limitations. Application of accident modeling or investigation and hazard analysis or control techniques. Introduction to mandatory and voluntary specification and performance regulations, standards, and guidelines.

Prerequisites: General Chemistry, General Physics, and Senior standing in any undergraduate program or Admission to graduate program

Co-requisites: None

Textbook: Goetsch, David L. The Safety and Health Handbook. Prentice-Hall. 2000.

References: To be determined

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the students will:

• Have experienced the ethical and legal obligations that engineers and designers have to ensure that people exposed to their designs are not subjected to unreasonable risk of injury [PEO 2]

• Be able to  identify the role of the person in the operation or use of man-machine systems based on the need to understand and accommodate the capabilities and limitations of humans [PEO 2] 

• Be able to incorporate the principles of safety into the normal design process so as to maximize their effectiveness [PEO 3] 

• Access the types of safety-related informational resources available now and in the future to the practicing engineer or designer [PEO 4].

Prerequisites by Topics: None

Topics:  

• Introduction to Safety Engineering and Management, Ergonomics and Human Factors (4 hours)
• Legal responsibilities under government regulation and Tort and Criminal Law (4 hours)
• Mandatory and voluntary specification and performance regulations, standards, and guidelines (4 hours)
• Accident modeling or investigation and hazard analysis or control techniques (4 hours)
• Mechanical Safety (4 hours)
• Electrical Safety (4 hours)
• Fire Safety (4 hours)  
• Chemical and Radiation Safety (4 hours)
• Industrial Hygiene (4 hours)
• Personal Protective Equipment (2 hours)
• Hazardous Waste Management and Environmental Engineering (2 hour)
• Exams (4 hours)

Class Schedule: 240 minutes lectures per week

Computer Usage: Use of Internet for research and homework submission purposes is specifically required for this course. This course can also be offered as an Internet-based course, where all material except an introductory lecture will be on the Internet.

Contribution to Meeting Professional Component: Required course for IE Human Systems specialty

Relationship to Professional Component: Design: 1 credit  

Prepared By: David Clark                                                                Date: February 13, 2001