Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health Law 



 
 November 24, 2009

 
Course Syllabus

Description | Learning Objectives | Reading Materials | Course Evaluation | Contact Information | Help | Ethical Conduct


 

Description

Examines US and international environmental and occupational health laws and regulations. Covers significant US federal laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Superfund, the Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act and significant international treaties and laws, such as the European Union’s REACH legislation, with a particular emphasis on how they influence public health intervention strategies. Also introduces students to the agencies that administer worker health and environmental protection programs.


Learning Objectives

Upon successfully completing this course, you should be able to do the following:

  • Identify and describe significant environmental and occupational health laws and regulations
  • Identify and describe the significant agencies and institutions charged with protecting environments and worker health
  • Describe the strengths and weaknesses of these laws and regulations
  • Compare U.S. and international legal approaches to environmental and occupational health protection

Module 1: Core Concepts, Key terms, and Phrases

  • Upon completing Module 1, you should be able to identify the articles and authorities in the US Constitution that underlie environmental and occupational health laws; define key legal terms and ideas that are important in US environmental and occupational health laws, and describe the strategies upon which environmental and occupational health laws are based.

Module 2: U.S. Environmental and Occupational Health Laws

  • Upon completing Module 2, you should have a working knowledge of many of the major US environmental and occupational health laws, the agencies that administer these laws and promulgate, enforce and interpret them, and the application of these laws and regulations as public health intervention tools.

Module 3: Emerging Issues and Trends

  • In completing Module 3, you should gain an understanding of those areas of environmental and occupational safety and health law that are under development but have not been fully formed. You will learn how these new concepts are evolving and how the future of environmental and occupational health law might look in the future.

Reading Materials

Textbook: Buck (2006), Understanding Environmental Administration and Law, 3rd Edition (Island Press)

Additional, required readings are in the Online Library (a comprehensive list of reading assignments is in the Course Organizational Matrix document).


Course Evaluation

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Course Element % of Total
Homework 1 15%
Homework 2 Parts 1&2 15%
Final Exam 40%
Participation (BBS, lectures, LiveTalks) 30%
TOTAL 100%

 

Contact Information

Faculty

Paul A. Locke JD, DrPH
Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
615 North Wolfe Street, 7th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21205
410-502-2525 (office)
410-955-0617 (fax)

Teaching Assistant

Scott Ladd
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Email: sladd@jhsph.edu


Help

Concerns
Contact
Concerns about course topics and assignments

  • Teaching Assistant
Technical concerns about the functionality and operation of course Web pages (before emailing, please make sure that you can replicate the problem)
  • DEHelp, the central help system for all tech support inquiries related to DED courses
Technical help on weekends
  • JHSPH User Support: 410-955-3781
Concerns about your Internet connection
  • Your Internet service provider (e.g., AT&T, Erols, etc.)
Concerns about your personal software
  • Your software vendor


Ethical Conduct

The academic ethics code, as discussed in the Policy and Procedure Memorandum for Students, March 31, 2002, will be adhered to in this class.


Disability Support Services

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic accommodation, please contact Betty H. Addison in the Office of Career Services and Disability Support: dss@jhsph.edu, 410-955-3034, or Room E-1140.

 

© 2009 The Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.
Copyright to this collective work of materials is owned by The Johns Hopkins University.
Copyright to individual contributions may be retained by contributing authors.