CPO 125 Safety, Health, and Environment

This course provides the student with a basic understanding of safety, health, and environmental standards for chemical plant operations. Topics include properties of hazardous materials, safety and health, industrial hygiene practices, environmental protection regulations, and emergency planning and response. In addition, the course covers the requirements for compliance with transportation regulations involving shipment of hazardous materials and wastes.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Prerequisite: SSC 100 or concurrent

See Course Syllabus

Course Number and Title:

CPO 125 Safety, Health, and Environment

Campus Location

  • Stanton

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: SSC 100 or concurrent

Course Credits and Hours

3 credit(s)

3 lecture hours/week

0 lab hours/week

Course Description

This course provides the student with a basic understanding of safety, health, and environmental standards for chemical plant operations. Topics include properties of hazardous materials, safety and health, industrial hygiene practices, environmental protection regulations, and emergency planning and response. In addition, the course covers the requirements for compliance with transportation regulations involving shipment of hazardous materials and wastes.

Required Text(s)

Obtain current textbook information by viewing the campus bookstore - https://www.dtcc.edu/bookstores online or visit a campus bookstore. Check your course schedule for the course number and section.

Core Course Performance Objectives (CCPOs)

  1. Describe the federal, state, and local safety, health, and environmental regulations that apply to the production and distribution of chemical materials. (CCC 4; PGC 1, 2)
  2. Discuss the various categories of hazards encountered in the chemical process industry and the effect these hazards have on safety, health, and the environment. (CCC 2; PGC 1)
  3. Identify chemical and biological hazards encountered by chemical process operators. (CCC 4; PGC 2)
  4. Identify equipment, energy, fire, and explosion hazards encountered by chemical process operators. (CCC 4; PGC 2)
  5. Identify pressure, temperature, and radiation hazards encountered by chemical process operators. (CCC 4; PGC 1)
  6. Identify hazardous atmospheres and the respiratory hazards encountered by chemical process operators. (CCC 4; PGC 1)
  7. Identify noise and ergonomic hazards encountered by chemical process operators. (CCC 4; PGC 1)
  8. Discuss the selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment and first aid procedures encountered in the chemical process industry. (CCC 6; PGC 2, 3)
  9. Identify and describe the equipment and procedures used in fire, rescue, and emergency response. (CCC 4; PGC 1)
  10. Identify environmental hazards, and discuss how the environmental regulations administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) impact the chemical process industry. (CCC 5; PGC 1)
  11. Explain the various engineering and administrative controls used by the chemical process industry to manage hazards. (CCC 6; PGC 1, 3)
  12. Describe the various permitting and monitoring systems used by the chemical process industry. (CCC 4; PGC 1, 3)

See Core Curriculum Competencies and Program Graduate Competencies at the end of the syllabus. CCPOs are linked to every competency they develop.

Measurable Performance Objectives (MPOs)

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

  1. Describe the federal, state, and local safety, health, and environmental regulations that apply to the production and distribution of chemical materials.
    1. Recall industrial accidents and other events in the process industries that have impacted safety, health, and the environment.
    2. Describe the necessity of occupational safety regulations.
    3. Describe governmental agencies and regulations that address safety, health, security, and environmental issues, including equivalent state and local agencies.
  2. Discuss the various categories of hazards encountered in the chemical process industry and the effect these hazards have on safety, health, and the environment.
    1. Identify common types of hazards to health, safety, and environment.
    2. Explain the various routes of entry that chemical and biological hazards use to enter the human body.
    3. Describe the short-term and long-term effects that hazards can have on an individual's health, safety, and the environment.
  3. Identify the chemical and biological hazards encountered by chemical process operators.
    1. Identify the various chemical hazards (gases, liquids, and particulates) found in the process industries and discuss potential effects such chemicals have on safety, health and the environment.
    2. Identify specific categories of hazardous chemicals used in the process industries, and describe the potential health and environmental hazards posed by each such as asphyxiates, corrosives, and toxins.
    3. Explain the purpose and function of labeling systems found in local process industries.
    4. Explain the purpose and components of Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
    5. Describe the primary governmental regulations relating to chemical hazards (labeling, storage, etc.).
    6. Identify potential biological hazards in the process industries, and discuss their potential effects on safety, health, and the environment.
    7. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address biological hazards.
    8. Identify equipment, energy, fire, and explosion hazards encountered by chemical process operators.
  4. Discuss the equipment and energy hazards posed by activities involving working with moving or rotating equipment, working with equipment that is pressurized, has extreme temperatures or emits radiation, and working with energized equipment.
    1. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address equipment and energy hazards.
    2. Describe the purpose of energy isolation (lockout/tag out).
    3. Recognize specific physical hazards present in the process industries, and explain the potential safety, health, and environmental hazards posed by fire, explosions, and detonation.
    4. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address fire and explosion hazards.
    5. Define Upper Explosive Limit (UEL), Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), and Boiling Liquid Evaporation Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
    6. Identify pressure, temperature, and radiation hazards encountered by chemical process operators.
  5. Recognize specific physical hazards posed by systems under reduced or elevated pressures, and explain the potential safety, health, and environmental hazards
    1. Recognize the hazards of heat and temperature in the working environment.
    2. Explain the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
    3. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address pressure, temperature, and radiation hazards.
  6. Identify hazardous atmospheres and the respiratory hazards encountered by chemical process operators.
    1. Describe specific hazards associated with hazardous atmospheres, ventilation, and other respiratory-related issues, including oxygen-deficient atmospheres, the improper use of respiratory protection, toxins, explosive atmospheres, and acid/caustic atmospheres.
    2. Describe the effects of hazardous atmospheres on respiration.
    3. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address hazardous atmospheres and respiration hazards.
  7. Identify noise and ergonomic hazards encountered by chemical process operators.
    1. Identify specific hazards associated with noise generated in a process industry environment, and describe how the volume of noise (decibel rating) and the length of exposure (TEL-Total Exposure Limit) can impact hearing.
    2. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address noise and hearing protection.
    3. Discuss the potential ergonomic hazards posed by lifting and handling materials, working at heights, working in confined spaces, and using repetitive motions.
    4. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address ergonomic hazards.
    5. Discuss the selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment and first aid procedures encountered in the chemical process industry.
  8. Describe basic first aid procedures and responses.
    1. Discuss the function and purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the process industries.
    2. Describe the specific levels of protection and how to select the proper PPE for each level.
    3. Explain the use, care, and inspection of PPE.
    4. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address PPE.
  9. Identify and describe the equipment and procedures used in fire, rescue, and emergency response. 
    1. Describe the function and purpose of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) typically found in the process industries.
    2. Describe the correct use of a safety shower and eyewash station.
    3. Describe the proper selection and use of fire extinguishers.
    4. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address fire protection and emergency response.
  10. Identify environmental hazards, and discuss how the environmental regulations administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) impact the chemical process industry.
    1. Explain EPA regulations that impact the process industries.
    2. Identify the various factors that can lead to leaks, spills, and releases.
    3. Describe the potential dangers of leaks, spills, and releases in the environment and the community.
    4. Discuss the various regulatory programs administered by the U.S. EPA.
  11. Explain the various engineering and administrative controls used by the chemical process industry to manage hazards.  
    1. Describe and discuss various engineering controls used by the process industries to minimize and/or eliminate threats to health, safety, and the environment, including alarm and indication systems, process containment and control systems, and process upset control systems.
    2. Explain various administrative controls used by the process industries to eliminate and/or minimize threats to safety, health, and the environment.
    3. Discuss the purpose and elements of Process Safety Management.
  12. Describe the various permitting and monitoring systems used by the chemical process industry.
    1. Describe the function and purpose of permitting systems found in the chemical process industry.
    2. Describe the use of locks, tags (lockout/tag-out), and blinds to isolate a piece of equipment, including all primary and secondary energy sources.
    3. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address permitting.
    4. Explain the function and purpose of monitoring equipment found in the chemical process industry.
    5. Describe governmental regulations and industry guidelines that address usage and permitting of monitoring equipment.

Evaluation Criteria/Policies

The grade will be determined using the Delaware Tech grading system:

90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
0-69 = F
Students should refer to the Catalog/Student Handbook for information on the Academic Standing Policy, the Academic Integrity Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and other policies relevant to their academic progress.

Final Course Grade

Calculated using the following weighted average

Evaluation Measure

Percentage of final grade

Tests (summative) (equally weighted)

60%

Final Exam (summative)

20%

Class Presentation (summative)

10%

Homework Assignments (formative)

10%

TOTAL

100%

Program Graduate Competencies (PGCs are the competencies every graduate will develop specific to his or her major)

  1. Maintain safety, health, and environmental standards during simulation exercises or in a chemical plant.
  2. Handle, store, and transport chemical materials according to all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
  3. Apply chemical process and quality systems in a chemical process environment or a chemical plant.
  4. Operate, monitor, control, and troubleshoot batch and continuous chemical processes.
  5. Analyze samples of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products in a simulated chemical process environment or a chemical plant.
  6. Perform routine, predictive, and preventive maintenance and service to process equipment and instrumentation.
  7. Use computers and computerized equipment for communications and chemical process control.

Core Curriculum Competencies (CCCs are the competencies every graduate will develop)

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Students in Need of Accommodations Due to a Disability

We value all individuals and provide an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the campus Disabilities Support Counselor to request an accommodation needed due to a disability. The College's policy on accommodations for persons with disabilities can be found in the College's Guide to Requesting Academic Accommodations and/or Auxiliary Aids Students may also access the Guide and contact information for Disabilities Support Counselors through the Student Resources web page under Disabilities Support Services, or visit the campus Advising Center.

Minimum Technology Requirements

Minimum technology requirements for online, hybrid, video conferencing and web conferencing courses.