Postgraduate Diploma in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents. 8 modules with Royal Decree 374/2001 (chemical agents), Royal Decree 664/1997 (biological agents) and IHSTAT (AIHA). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents — studying from Australia
Health technology and biomechanics are growing areas in Australia, supported by a strong medical research sector and an established medical device industry. Wearable devices and occupational safety systems are increasingly used in mining, construction and healthcare. Medical devices are regulated nationally, requiring engineers to understand conformity, risk management and clinical evaluation. Employers include medical device manufacturers, hospitals, research institutes such as those affiliated with universities, and workplace safety consultancies.
Fees for Australia: A$2,380 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by Engineers Australia or other professional bodies for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications and are not accredited by Engineers Australia or any other national body. Recognition is decided by individual employers and, where relevant, by the professional body assessing your application. Engineers Australia assesses skills and experience independently, so check directly with the body you hope to join before enrolling.
Which Australian employers might value this training in health, biomechanics or wearable safety work?
Employers in Australian medical device firms, rehabilitation services, workplace health and safety teams and wearable technology companies may consider advanced engineering training when hiring. Whether they value a private qualification depends on each employer's own policy and on your existing experience. Speaking with prospective employers about how they view private qualifications is a sensible step.
Can I study this alongside full-time work in Australia, and is employer funding possible?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from any time zone, including Australian time zones, around your work hours. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible; ask your employer whether they fund training. Plan for the workload of 300 to 1,900 hours depending on the programme, and confirm the schedule with SEIUM.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify chemical and biological agents and their routes of exposure.
Design sampling strategies in accordance with UNE-EN 689.
Apply techniques for capturing gases and vapours.
Sample particles according to the inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions.
Plan the sampling of biological agents in air and on surfaces.
Interpret results against limit values using statistical methods.
Ensure sampling quality and propose control measures.
Who it's for
- Industrial hygienist wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
- Environmental sampling technician wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
- Hygiene laboratory technician wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
- Prevention technician specialised in hygiene wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
- Occupational exposure consultant wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
- Laboratory quality manager wishing to specialise in Sampling of Chemical and Biological Agents.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter prevention services.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 374/2001 (chemical agents)
- Royal Decree 664/1997 (biological agents)
- UNE-EN 689 (measurement strategy for inhalation exposure)
- UNE-EN 482 (general requirements for measurement procedures)
- UNE-EN 481 (particle size fractions)
- UNE-EN 14583 (volumetric sampling of bioaerosols)
- UNE-EN 13098 (measurement of airborne micro-organisms)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Routes of entry of contaminants into the body1.2Concept of daily and short-term exposure1.3VLA-ED and VLA-EC limit values of the INSST1.4Royal Decree 374/2001 on chemical agents1.5Royal Decree 664/1997 on biological agents1.6Biological risk groups 1 to 41.7Safety data sheets and REACH Regulation1.8Preliminary qualitative assessment: COSHH Essentials1.9General exposure assessment strategy1.10Practical case: identification of agents in an analytical laboratory
2.1UNE-EN 689 standard on exposure measurement2.2Similar exposure groups2.3Number of samples and preliminary test2.4Personal versus area sampling2.5Duration and timing of sampling2.6Intra- and inter-individual variability2.7Statistical compliance tests2.8Periodic measurement and reassessment2.9Documentation of the sampling plan2.10Workshop: sampling plan per UNE-EN 689 for a paint shop
3.1Sampling pumps and flow rate calibration3.2Charcoal and silica gel adsorbent tubes3.3Passive diffusion samplers3.4Bags and canisters for gases3.5INSST MTA analytical methods3.6NIOSH and OSHA reference methods3.7Gas chromatography in analysis3.8Direct-reading instruments: PID and electrochemical detectors3.9UNE-EN 482 requirements for procedures3.10Laboratory: pump calibration and sampling with adsorbent tube
4.1Inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions4.2UNE-EN 481 standard on size conventions4.3Cyclones and IOM and CIP10 samplers4.4Filters: types and gravimetric preparation4.5Respirable crystalline silica: sampling and analysis4.6Asbestos fibres and phase-contrast microscopy4.7Metals and ICP analysis4.8Welding fumes and nanoparticles4.9Optical particle counters4.10Practical: respirable dust sampling with cyclone and gravimetry
5.1Bioaerosols: bacteria, fungi and endotoxins5.2Andersen-type impactors5.3Sampling on filters and in liquid media5.4Surface sampling with swabs and plates5.5Standards UNE-EN 13098 and UNE-EN 145835.6Culture, CFU counting and identification5.7Molecular methods: quantitative PCR5.8Legionella in risk installations5.9Absence of limit values and reference values5.10Laboratory: bioaerosol sampling with impactor in an enclosed space
6.1Calculation of concentrations and daily exposure6.2Exposure to mixtures: additive effect6.3Handling results below the limit of detection6.4Lognormal distribution and 95th percentile6.5IHSTAT and BWStat software6.6Measurement uncertainty6.7Biological monitoring and its relationship with environmental monitoring6.8Hygiene assessment report6.9Communicating results to the worker6.10Practical: statistical analysis of a series of measurements
7.1Control hierarchy: substitution and isolation7.2Local exhaust ventilation7.3Respiratory protective equipment7.4Analytical laboratory quality control7.5ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation7.6Chain of custody and sample transport7.7Technician safety during sampling7.8Biosafety in sampling Group 3 agents7.9Sampling waste management7.10Practical case: evaluation of local exhaust extraction effectiveness
8.1Selection of workplace and agents8.2Identification and qualitative assessment8.3Design of the sampling strategy8.4Selection of methods and equipment8.5Logistical and quality planning8.6Statistical analysis of simulated results8.7Proposal of control measures8.8Drafting the hygiene report8.9Written report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IHSTAT (AIHA), Altrex Chimie, R, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied on real personal sampling procedures with pumps and collection media, bioaerosol sampling with impactors, and statistical interpretation of results against VLAs. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify chemical and biological agents and their routes of exposure.
Design sampling strategies in accordance with UNE-EN 689.
Apply techniques for capturing gases and vapours.
Sample particles according to the inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions.
Plan the sampling of biological agents in air and on surfaces.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of technical regulations.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses IHSTAT (AIHA), Altrex Chimie, R and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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