Introduction to OHSE Law
UndergraduateACU-OHSE3312022
Course information for 2022 intake
Start your exploration of the Australian legal system.
Look through the legislation that regulates environmental protections and work safety. Discuss legal concepts like judicial precedent. Find out what penalties are meted out for offences.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Introduction to OHSE Law
About this subject
On completion of this subject the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and apply the concepts of law, the judicial court systems, common law and equity, and the common law of employment and environmental protection
- Locate and analyse sources of legal precedence/case law and communicate effectively how these concepts might impact on the OHS professional practice, an organisation or individuals
- Through study of failures and inadequacies, analyse and critically evaluate how OHSE risks to health or environment in organisations are legally required to be managed
- Through study of failures and inadequacies, analyse and critically evaluate how OHSE risks to health or environment in organisations are legally required to be managed
- Finding legislation and reading case law
- The Australian legal system
- Maintaining currency with OHSE law
- Overview of WHS Act and regulation and environmental legal framework
- Recognise health and safety and environment duties
- Demonstrate the duty to consult and provide training
- Health and safety representatives and designated work groups
- Authorisations and licensing
- Offences, penalties, and workers’ rights
- Regulation and enforcement
- Jurisdictional issues (other relevant jurisdictions for OHSE practice (electrical safety, mining safety, maritime safety, explosives, etc)
- Interface with workers’ compensation and rehabilitation law as it applies to OHS practice
- Interface with public safety, EEO and discrimination law as it applies to OHSE practice.
This subject covers an introduction to the Australian legal system, including concepts of common law, the doctrine of judicial precedent, and the court systems. Specific legislation regulating work health and safety, (with a focus on the national model laws), and protection of the environment, in so far as it relates to a workplace will be considered. This subject aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to identify and advise decision makers on OHSE compliance, based on national and international legislative frameworks, so they can contribute to organisational health and safety best practice.
Three assessment items are required in this Unit. The first, based around a weekly online discussion topic/question/scenario, requires students to combine their knowledge and understanding of OHSE law (including researching the law) with their own views and experiences. The second is report of a court case with a significant OHSE legal content and requires students to succinctly write a case report. he third task is designed to combine all the elements of the unit and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the law and apply the relevant law to a fact or scenario.
In order to pass this unit, students are required to achieve an overall mark of at least 50% and make an attempt at each piece of assessment. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome.- Assessment (100%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
ACU-OHSE201-Introduction to OHS (no longer available)
ACU-OHS201 (Not currently available)
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
ACU-OHS331 (Not currently available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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