CUYAMACA COLLEGE
OFFICIAL COURSE OUTLINE

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY TECHNOLOGY 100 – INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Catalog Description
Designed to provide a general overview of the environmental hazardous materials technology (EnvT) field with emphasis on hazardous materials, hazardous waste management, and their effect upon the environment and worker health and safety. Discussion of the history of pollution leading to current legislation, and current best practices of handling hazardous substances to minimize the harmful impact on society and the environment will be stressed.

Prerequisite
None

Course Objectives
Students will be able to:
1) Research laws and regulations pertaining to hazardous materials/waste
2) Determine ENV/OSH agencies that regulate hazardous materials/waste
3) Describe appropriate handling and management procedures for hazardous materials/waste
4) Use appropriate terms common to the hazardous materials industry
5) Demonstrate proper safety practices used in handling hazardous materials
6) Critically analyze physical, chemical, biological interactions of pollutants and their effect on ENV/OSH
7) Compare and contrast the Federal and State of California ENV/OSH laws
8) Select the correct Threshold Limit Value or Permissible Exposure Limit for a provided toxicology case study

Special Materials Required of Student
None

Minimum Instructional Facilities
Standard classroom

Course Content
1) Perspective and Overview
a. Environmental conservation movement
b. Current concerns
c. Environmental protection/worker health industry

2) Hazardous Materials Introduction and Overview
a. Chemistry overview
b. Characteristics of
c. MSDS sheets/labels, etc.
d. Terminology

3) Overview of Environmental Laws, Agencies and Programs
a. Federal: RCRA, CERCLA, DOT, FIFRA, TSCA, NPDES
b. State: Toxic substances; community right to know; Prop 65; asbestos, PCB, batteries, etc.; underground storage tanks; biomedical waste

4) Occupational Laws, Agencies and Programs
a. Federal: Department of Labor, OSHA, DOT, FIFRA, EPA, FDA, TSCA
b. State: CARB, APCD, RWQCB, DEH/HMD, hazard communication, hazardous site worker requirements, SB198, contingency plans: HMBP, CalARP

5) Introduction to Health Effects/Workplace Safety
a. Terminology
b. Principles
c. Worker rights
d. Worker protection programs
e. Medical surveillance

6) Environmental Compartments
a. Soil: legislation, environmental contamination, community health protection, remediation
b. Water: legislation, environmental contamination, community health protection, remediation
c. Air: legislation, environmental contamination, community health protection, remediation

7) Waste Minimization: definitions, legislation, principles

8) Solid Waste Sites: construction, monitoring, sampling

9) First Responder Awareness: principles, application

10) Risk Management: principles of risk management

Method of Instruction
1) Lecture and discussion
2) Projects
3) Field trips

Method of Evaluation
A grading system will be established by the instructor and implemented uniformly. Grades will be based on demonstrated proficiency in subject matter determined by multiple measurements for evaluation, one of which must be essay exams, skills demonstration or, where appropriate, the symbol system.
1) Attendance
2) Participation
3) Hands-on activities
4) Written skills including essay exams, homework, research or other papers

Texts and References
1) Required: Boyce, Ann. Introduction to Environmental Technology. Van Nostrand Reinhold Pub., 1997.
2) Supplemental: Industry reference books and articles

Exit Skills
Students having successfully completed this course exit with the following skills, competencies and/or knowledge:
1) Research and analyze laws, regulations and standards pertaining to environmental management and occupational safety and health
2) Define and apply terminology and acronyms used by professionals working in environmental management and occupational safety and health careers
3) Demonstrate written communication skills by researching and completing a three-page paper on a topic relevant to environmental management, hazardous waste management or occupational safety
4) Demonstrate oral communication skills by preparing and delivering a five-minute oral presentation based on the research paper
5) Analyze and apply relevant information from a chemicals Material Data Safety Sheet to an emergency response event
6) Explain the principles of toxicology, how hazardous chemicals effect the organism and the major components of risk assessment
7) Compare and contrast the principles of pollution prevention versus waste source reduction using industry principles and standards
8) Recognize and interpret labels, signs and placards used in environmental technology industry to quantify and qualify hazardous materials and hazardous waste in the workplace
9) Demonstrate and follow safe work practices, safety standards and procedures required at industry sites

Distance Learning
This course has gone through a separate, supplemental review by the Curriculum, General Education and Academic Policies and Procedures Committee and has been approved for Distance Learning instructional methodology. Yes X
Approved for Telecourse methodology Yes Date:
Approved for Online methodology Yes X Date: F00