Course content

This course shall give the student knowledge on the topic working environment in industrial operations, in offices and ind the service industry. The course will provide knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of companies activities according to working environment, and about regulations.
The course is an introduction to the occupational hygiene, noise and vibrations, ergonomics and psychosocial work environment, including an introduction to how to analyze and evaluate the working environment impacts on these areas. Risk evaluation within the working environemnt area varies between subjects and differences and similarities between these will be discussed. Management of working environment in new buildings in design phase as example of preventive actions related to working environment. Reporting of the working environment situation and use of indicators for communication of working environment performance are discussed.

Learning outcome

The course presents knowledge of factors representing health risks in Norwegian work life, and legislation controlling exposures to such risks. The students learn risk assessment of the relevant risks and identify measures to achieve risk reduction.
The following topics are included:
- General knowledge of work environment, about roles and responsibilities of companies activities according to working environment and about relevant regulations, that companies have to act in accordance with.
General knowledge about the risk of handling chemicals, limit values for chemicals, product data sheet and classification and labeling of chemical substances.
- General knowledge about noise, vibrations, ergonomic and psykosocial working environment, knowledge about the importance for the working environement in companies, about the possible health effects, the risks associated with the workplace and which type of measures that counteract relevant hazards.
The course shall make the students develop proficiency in:
- Evaluate the work environment in an enterprise, and suggest measures to achieve good work environment
- Organize the H&S system of an enterprise according to Norwegian legal requirements, but also considering the size, resources and hazards of an enterprise
By taking this course it is expected that the students should be able to:
- Understand and master central concepts within working environment
- Employ this knowledge on real cases to: (1) understand businesses' working environment organisation, (2) master the concept health risk in relation to working environment and methods for evaluation. (3) be able to evaluate and discuss different methods for risk evaluation (4)
implement these in good working environment plans.
Other important learning objectives include: Training in the ability ot work in team and increase the competence in report writing.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and technical tours to study work environment in companies in Trondheim area. Mandatory laboratory exercises in groups and term paper.

Compulsory assignments

• Lab exercise
• Term project

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

This is an mandatory introductory course in the 1st year of the 2-year master programs in health, environment and safety (MIHMS and MHMS).

Course materials

Announced at the beginning of the course.