Course Title: Analyse and implement sustainable work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: OHTH5482

Course Title: Analyse and implement sustainable work practices

School: 340T Art

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5234 - Diploma of Visual Art

Course Contact : Jennifer Cabraja

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4472

Course Contact Email:TAFEArt@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Jennifer Mills  - City campus
jennifer.mills@rmit.edu.au

Sharon West - Bundoora campus
sharon.west@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 15

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course develops your skills and knowledge required by artists to develop, monitor and maintain economic, social, institutional and environmental work practices within a studio content.  The application of this course in the workplace sees an individual artist analyzing, planning for, improving and monitoring sustainable practices. In this course, you will research industry standard workplace practices, investigate OH&S and actively initiate innovation into your own studio practice. You will gain a deeper understanding of materials used in the production of artwork, and demonstrate appropriate handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. Sustainability and minimising the environmental impact of an individual art practice will be the primary focus of this course.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VPAU010 Analyse and implement sustainable work practices

Element:

1 Investigate and analyse current resource usage and workplace practices

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Investigate, measure and document current resource usage and environmental issues in the workplace
1.2  Analyse current purchasing strategies and work practices in relation to sustainability
1.3 Identify relevant legislation, codes and national standards that impact on workplace environmental practices to ensure compliance
1.4 Identify existing and potential environmental risks and hazards in the workplace and report on if/as required

Element:

2 Develop, promote and implement environmental and resource efficiency plan and procedures

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Develop and document an environmental and resource efficiency plan, targets and work procedures based on analysis of resource usage and practices
2.2 Recognise, follow and communicate to individuals/team(s)   the environmental and resource efficiency plan, targets and associated work procedures
2.3 Recognise, follow and communicate to individuals/team(s) relevant legislation, codes and national standards that impact on workplace environmental practices
2.4 Identify environmental training needs and provide training as required
2.5 Oversee implementation of environmental and resource efficiency plan and procedures
2.6 Respond positively and in a timely manner to environmental and resource efficiency actions, improvements and workplace practices  

Element:

3 Promote continuous improvement and innovative environmental work practices

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Foster continuous improvement and sustainable innovation as an essential part of work practices and doing business
3.2 Gather information and encourage others to suggest and/or make improvements to environmental workplace plans and practices
3.3 Actively seek new ideas and incorporate entrepreneurial behaviour into work practices
3.4 Respond positively and promptly to changes in the workplace in accordance with environmental practice  requirements
3.5 Inform individuals/team(s) of the results of environmental improvements and innovations in the workplace as appropriate
3.6 Identify environmental training needs, and seek training where/as required 

Element:

4 Monitor environmental and resource efficiency performance plan

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Gather data and information to assess workplace performance against efficiency plan, targets and work
procedures  
4.2 Evaluate and adjust efficiency plan, targets and work procedures to reflect workplace changes


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course, you will have the skills and knowledge to understand sustainable work practices.

This course will provide you with a focus on the acquisition of essential industry skills.

You will learn the following:

  • Industry standard workplace practices
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation, codes and national standards in reviewing current work practices
  • Potential hazards and risks in relation to studio and industry art practices
  • Innovation in current and future work practice.

On successful completion of this course, there will be evidence of self-review and continuous improvement in work practice.

 



 


Details of Learning Activities

This course is clustered with the following course: BUSM6276C Address legal and administration requirements. The learning and assessment for each of these units is in a clustered delivered and will occur both on campus and off site.

The application of this course in the workplace sees you analysing, planning for, improving and monitoring sustainable practices. In this course you will research industry standard workplace practices, investigate OH&S and actively initiate innovation into your own studio practice. You will gain a deeper understanding of the materials you use in the production of your artwork, and demonstrate appropriate handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. Sustainability and minimizing the environmental impact of your art practice will be the primary focus of this course. .Dissemination of information through workshops and discussion held in second year studios: buildings 94, 95 and 66


Teaching Schedule

Week  Session  Assessment task
 Performance criteria
 1  Introduction
-    discussion of course elements
-    relevance of course to the context of studio arts
-    expectations
   
 2  Introduction to M.S.D.S
-    where to find them
-    what they contain
-    research and familiarization of  individual studio practices issues
Group work-
-Break into small groups of major subjects and go through relevant msds.
- discuss and present 5 main points to class
 
1.1, 1.3, 1.4 ,2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1
 3 OH&S
Identify environmental and studio practice risks.
-    why is this important
-    recognizing risk
-    how to avoid risk
-    procedures if accidents happen
In groups identify major OH&S issues, write them up and do a quick drawing illustrating one of these issues
 1.3, 1.4,
 4  Materials
-looking at sourcing material
- saving materials, eliminating wastage
-looking at how other artists approach resource management in their practice
Watch a selection of short doco’s covering these issues,
 Group discussion on films.
 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6,3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.2
 5 Week 4 continued.
DVD’s on artists approach to notions of how to use a studio and available resources
Compare and contrast the innovation and changing approaches of the artists in the film.  1.1, 2.3, 3.3, 3.4
 6 Sustainable innovation.. Theo Jensen films and Bondi sculpture fair (recycled materials).. Group discussion
 
 7 Street Art,
Hazards, law, communication, planning, extension of practice.. anti studio.
   
 8 Lateral approaches to studio practice and material dependence
Show and tell, bring in example of inspiring artist who fits this category  
 9 Studio contracts
-what is a studio contract
- how are they used
-elements to consider when writing one, codes and national standards, oh&s, management of resources, shared spaces etc
Write and sign your own studio contract based on the requirement discussed.. how can you make it more relevant to your specific resources  
 10  Studio hazards.
 -identify current studio issues
 Clean and monitor own studio space  
 11 Gabriel Orozco, Artist independent of studio practices. How does he maintain his arts practice outside of these conventions Discuss this in relation to other subjects covered in this course
 
 12  STUDIO CLEAN UP  Maintain safe work environment  
 13  Apply techniques to major subject, examine practice and procedures  Group discussion following week.  
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Resources required to carry out assessment these resources include:

  • legislation, guidelines, procedures and protocols relating to project management
  • workplace project documentation
  • scenarios and case studies
  • documented information
  • project management tools
  • handouts provided covering workshop and studio MSDS ( material safety data sheets) and manuals
Useful Texts and Resources:

McCann, M and Babin, A., Health Hazards Manual for Artists, The Lyons Press, 2008
Ray, P. & Anderson, S.R., The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World Three Rivers Press, 2001
Rossol, M., The Artist’s Complete Health and Safety Guide, Allworth Press, 2001

Websites:
  • www.epa.vic.gov.au   The website for the Environmental Protection Agency Victoria. A great site for information about sustainability and waste management. Go to this site to calculate your own individual ecological footprint.                                                                         
  • www.environment.gov.au/settlements/chemicals/hazardous-waste/index.html  This website is the Australian Government website for the handling of hazardous waste. You will find downloadable brochures and handouts outlining federal legislation and guidelines pertaining to the disposal of hazardous materials.
  • www.wasteexchange.net.au/  A waste exchange site. Not all waste needs to end up in land fill. Browse this site for waste that might be useful.
  • www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/index.html  This address will direct you to the national waste policy. You can download the policy and find out legislation and find out what the targets and plans are for the next 10 years by reading the National Waste Policy Implementation Plan.
    The ‘National Waste Policy Implementation Plan’ was endorsed by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council on 5 July 2010. The implementation plan identifies priority initiatives and milestones, presents the governance arrangements that will support the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and sets out how progress will be tracked and performance monitored.
    Worth reading is the ‘National Waste Report 2010’. As well as presenting national, state and territory waste data, the report discusses: the costs and impacts of landfill; recycling; hazardous waste; organic waste and litter; and describes how we managed waste in the past, our current arrangements and emerging issues and trends.
  • www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1517-home-page.asp This is the homepage for Sustainability Victoria; here you can find links to all aspects of Victorian Government sustainability guidelines as well as useful resources.
  • www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households_2019.html  Of particular use is this Sustainability Victoria website page as it provides lists of household (studio) wastes and outlines how to dispose of them. Click onto the links for toxic waste disposal depots in your area.
    www.visualarts.net.au/advicecentre/health-and-safety
  • Visit NAVA, the National Advocacy for the Visual Arts, to learn about everything to do with Visual Arts. This particular link will send you to the page for information on health and safety. Each document gives an excellent detailed overview of what your materials really are. Download the relevant documents and start learning.


Overview of Assessment

To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete the following evidence of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment. On completion of this course, you will receive graded assessment.

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

  • case studies
  • work samples or simulated workplace activities
  • oral questioning/interview
  • projects/reports/logbooks
  • observation and participation during class
  • portfolios of evidence.


Assessment must take place over a period of time in order to determine competence in the ongoing implementation and monitoring aspects of this unit.


Assessment Tasks

You will be assessed through the following

  • Sustainability Needs Analysis
  • Environmental and resource efficiency plan
  • Review checklist


Assessment Matrix

Assessment task Elements Performance criteria Essential knowledge Essential skills Critical aspect of evidence
Sustainability Needs Analysis  1. Investigate and Analyse current resource usage and workplace practices.
2. Develop promote and implement Environmental and resource efficiency plan and procedures
3. Promote continuous improvement and innovate environmental work practices
 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,
2.1, 2.4, 2.6, 3.6
Essential knowledge includes:
  • relevant regulatory/legislative requirements including compliance requirements for environmental/sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice including resource hazards/risks associated with work area, job specification and procedures if applicable
  • relevant knowledge of environmental and energy efficiency issues, systems and procedures specific to industry practice
  • knowledge of best practice approaches relevant to own area particularly in regard to minimising environmental hazards and risks, and improving environmental performance especially in regard to water catchments, air, noise, ecosystems, habitat, efficient use of resources, sustainability, purchasing and waste minimisation 
  • strategies to maximize opportunities and minimise impacts relevant to own area
  • OHS issues and requirements
  • methods of analysing resource efficiency
  • alternate resources /alternative ways of achieving the same function
  • principles of resource efficiency
  • ’potential environmental threats and problems relevant to a given region and occupation
  • general work place practices and their potential impact on the environment
Essential skills include: 
  • communication skills
  • literacy skills for locating, comprehending and recording information, interpreting environmental and energy efficiency requirements, creating tools to measure and monitor improvements
  • numeracy skills to analyse data on resource consumption and waste product volumes
  • technology skills including ability to use software to record and file documentation, develop charts, graphs, develop plans and other data and information
  • analytical skills so as to problem solve, devise innovative solutions and reflect on strategies and approaches
  • planning skills so as to develop and record efficiency plans 
This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

The demonstrated ability to:
  • Investigate and analyse and monitor own resource usage and workplace practices
  • develop and implement an environmental and resource efficiency plan and procedures
  • promote continuous improvement and innovative environmental work practices  
Environmental and resource efficiency plan  2. Develop promote and implement Environmental and resource efficiency plan and procedures
3. Promote continuous improvement and innovate environmental work practices
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5,
3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4,3.5, 3.6
     
Review checklist  4. Monitor environmental and resource efficiency performance plan  4.1, 4.2      

Other Information

Feedback  
You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work.  This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;

Course Overview: Access Course Overview