OSH 110 Safety Essay Instructions

You will be asked to write a safety essay in this course. You will be working on this essay during Weeks 2-7. After your first draft, feedback will be provided and you must use this feedback to make any corrections to your final draft. The final version of your essay will be submitted in Week 6.  You will then create a PowerPoint based on the information in your essay in Week 7.

Week 1 – Choosing a Topic

Choose your essay topic from the lists below.  You do not have to obtain approval for your topic, but please ask your instructor/facilitator any questions you may have.

Students will choose their essay topic from the Top 10 – Most Accessed General Industry Standards list OR OSHA’s 2015 Top Ten Most Frequently Cited Violations below. Please note that some topics appear on both lists. Please direct any questions/concerns about your potential topic to the instructor or your facilitator.

Top 10 – Most Accessed General Industry Standards

1. Bloodborne Pathogens – 1910.1030
   1. Hazard Communication – 1910.1200
   1. Respiratory Protection – 1910.134
   1. Occupational Noise Exposure – 1910.95
   1. Powered Industrial Trucks – 1910.178
   1. Permit-required Confined Spaces – 1910.146
   1. Lockout/Tagout – 1910.147
   1. Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response – 1910.120
   1. Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes – 1910.23
   1. Personal Protective Equipment – 1910.132

United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Regulations (standards – 29 CFR). Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910

OSHA’s 2015 TOP TEN Most Frequently Cited Violations

1. 1926.501 – Fall Protection (C)
2. 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication
3. 1926.451 – Scaffolding (C)
4. 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection
5. 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout
6. 1910.178 – Powered Industrial Trucks
7. 1926.1053 – Ladders (C)
8. 1910.305 – Electrical, Wiring Methods
9. 1910.212 – Machine Guarding
10. 1910.303 – Electrical, General Requirements

(C) = Construction standard

United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Top 10 most frequently cited standards. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Top_Ten_Standards.html?kui=JG9Fxq19a0H98OD9Sz2Rmw

Week 2 – Resource Documentation Log

Find at least 7 sources of data that supports your safety essay topic. Students are required to use a variety of sources using EKU Libraries. Use the Resource Documentation Log provided to document the data for each source. This log can be used to help create your Reference page of your Safety Essay in week 3. Make sure to use APA Style when referencing sources.  Also, you should record specific information and page numbers for each source so that they may be easily referenced while writing your final essay. You are not required to use all of these initial sources in your essay. You may continue to look for other potential references as we move through the writing of your safety essay. Simply make any corrections needed to your Reference page as needed.  

(Resource Documentation Log is worth 50 points)

Week 3 & 4 –  First draft of Safety Essay

In weeks 3 and 4 you will work on your first draft of your safety essay. This will include: title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion and reference page. The entire essay is in APA format.

The format for an essay is generally: what you were going to tell them (Introduction), what you told them (Body), and now you will tell them again (Conclusion). The conclusion paragraph summarizes the information in the body.  The conclusion is not exactly the same as the introduction; you will summarize the points differently than you did before and bring in final thoughts. The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the points.  You should address the benefits or projected results of accepting the main points. In utilizing this strategy you may even provide additional or new evidence. Let’s say for example that you were writing about implementing a specific management plan. You presented the plan in three main topics covered in the body. You now might provide evidence of or project results of implementing all three components together. You would be summarizing the main objectives but in a different manner.

Ensure your introductory paragraph includes the attention getter, thesis statement and main points/arguments that you plan to address in your essay.  You should include in-text citations to support your writing.   The body paragraphs should align with the three main points/arguments you listed in your introduction.  Be sure that you include your transition statements between points so that the reader has a clear understanding of the intent of the paper.

The abstract is a brief summary of the essay. It should describe the problem or thesis, summarize the arguments or points, and cover the conclusion of the essay. At the bottom of the abstract include a list of key words.  

Your Reference page should list at least the minimum 7 references found and documented in your resource documentation log. Each should be cited in the essay. Students must use a variety of different source types. References should be cited in correct APA format both on the Reference page and within the essay.

The introduction, body and conclusion sections of your paper should be a minimum of 4-5 pages. This does not include the title page or reference page.

**See attached Sample APA Document prior to beginning work. Most student approach this as an informational type essay but you are free to take in any direction you wish**

(First Draft 100 points)

Weeks 5 & 6 – Final Draft

First drafts will be graded early in week 5. Students will have the remainder of weeks 5 and 6 to make any corrections and submit the final draft at the end of week 6.

The finished essay should include revisions based on recommendations from the first draft. The final version will include a cover page, abstract, body, conclusion and reference page.  Formatting for each section and for the overall essay is based on APA Style. A minimum of 7 sources cited and referenced in this essay is required. Using a variety of different types of sources is required.

The introduction, body and conclusion sections of your paper should be a minimum of 4-5 pages. This does not include the title page or reference page.

(Final Draft 100 points)

Week 7 – Safety Presentation

Prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your topic. Students may choose to use https://screencast-o-matic.com/     or another suitable software to record your presentation. You should narrate the slides as if you are actually presenting in front of an audience.

Be sure to follow these guidelines:

• Follow the structure of the essay. Include the objectives of the presentation early in place of an outline statement.
• Keep wording at a minimum. The slide serves as a cue for what you will cover
• Utilize the notes section. You should include an outline of what you will cover or an exact script of what you plan to say.
• Make the slides interesting. Include example, pictures, and video clips to catch the attention of your audience.
• Engage the audience. Engage the audience by asking questions or through activities. You can explain how activities will progress within the notes section.
• Cite sources. Give credit to your sources at the end of the presentation. Including your actual Reference page is suggested.

Students may create a free account with Screen-Cast-O-Matic to record their presentation. Recordings can be up to 15 minutes each. Students may submit more than one recording if the presentation exceeds 15 minutes.

(PowerPoint 100 points)