Course Title: Environmental and Hazard Analysis

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Environmental and Hazard Analysis

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PROC2086

City Campus

Undergraduate

120H Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

PROC2086

City Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: A/Prof Linhua Fan

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3692

Course Coordinator Email: linhua.fan@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 10.10.21

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Completion of Years 1 and 2 of BH079. You should be familiar with basic chemical engineering vocabulary and concepts.


Course Description

Environmental & Hazard Analysis provides a formal introduction to the legal and moral obligations on chemical engineers to minimise loss during processing operations. Loss covers environmental damage, the safety of the workforce and nearby communities and the avoidance of damage to process plant and equipment. The legal obligations under Victorian law will be discussed, specific issues considered and management systems to facilitate the implementation of loss prevention strategies will be outlined. The ethical basis of engineering will also be introduced.

This course highlights the fact that chemical engineering design is not just a technical exercise. New plants, or modifications to existing plants, must be designed in such a way that the environment and the humans involved are protected to the maximum extent possible.

You will learn to assess new designs or existing operations in a systematic and comprehensive manner, which will lead to better engineering solutions and comply with all legal obligations. You will learn about your legal and moral obligations to society. You will learn how to develop a management strategy to facilitate the assessment of the risks associated with chemical engineering operations and methods for mitigating these risks.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following program learning outcomes for BH079  Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Honours) for students who commenced their program prior to 2023:

Knowledge and Skill Base

1.1. Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline.

1.2. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.

1.3. Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.

1.4. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline

Engineering Application Ability

2.1  Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.

Professional and Personal Attributes

3.1. Ethical conduct and professional accountability

3.2. Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.

3.4. Professional use and management of information.

3.5. Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.

This course contributes to development of the following program learning outcomes for BH079  Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Honours) for students who commenced their program in 2023:

  • PLO1: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of fundamental engineering and scientific theories, principles and concepts and apply advanced technical knowledge in specialist domain of engineering. 
  • PLO2: Utilise mathematics and engineering fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to design engineering systems for complex engineering challenges.   
  • PLO3: Apply engineering research principles, methods and contemporary technologies and practices to plan and execute projects taking into account ethical, environmental and global impacts.   
  • PLO4: Apply systematic problem solving, design methods and information and project management to propose and implement creative and sustainable solutions with intellectual independence and cultural sensitivity. 
  • PLO5: Communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods, practising professional and ethical conduct.
  • PLO6: Develop and demonstrate the capacity for autonomy, agility and reflection of own learning, career and professional development and conduct.  


On completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Describe the obligations imposed by law on process designers and plant operators;
  2. Discuss the various risks to the environment, equipment and personnel that are inherent in chemical engineering processes and ways to quantify and mitigate them; 
  3. Identify management strategies for risk minimisation.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will engage with pre-recorded lectures and work both individually and collaboratively on tutorials and assignments with your peers. The course is supported by the Canvas learning management system. 

Total study hours: You will undertake the equivalent of three hours per week in lectures and tutorials. In addition you can expect to spend a minimum of four hours per week in independent study.


Overview of Learning Resources

A range of materials, including slides used in lectures, will be available on the learning management system.

Support can also be found at RMIT Library Guides: http://rmit.libguides.com/chemicaleng


Overview of Assessment

Note that:  This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks:

Task 1: Process Safety Assignment (Individual, 20%) 

This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

Task 2: Process Safety Test (40%)

This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

It is a 2-hour test that will be taken during class time.

Task 3: Environmental Management Test (40%)

This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

It is a 2-hour test that will be taken during class time. This assessment is a timed and timetabled assessment that students must attend on campus except for international students who are outside Australia.