ING2048 The Occupational Environment

Contents and structure

In the course, the students will develop an understanding of what factors in the working environment that can affect the employee¿s physical and mental health and welfare.

The factors in the course being examined, are:

• psychosocial and organizational factors
• physical factors
• chemical factors
• biological factors
• ergonomics and stress, prevent and follow up absence due to sickness
• pollution and waste associated with the environment

The course will give the students¿ knowledge of mapping dangers and problems in an enterprise, assessing the risk and taking measures to reduce the risk.

The Working Environment Act with regulations is the basis for assessing whether the working environment is in accordance with the statutory requirements.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

The student should be familiar with:

• Important laws, regulations and guidelines.

 

The student should have knowledge of:

• The Working Environment Act's requirements and how these should be taken care of.
• Various factors in the working environment that represent risk factors and health hazard exposures.
• Consequences for the employees¿ health if he / she is exposed to unfavorable physical and mental stress.
• The total working environment (psychosocial, organizational, chemical, biological, physical and ergonomic factors).
• How the environment is affected by pollution and waste.

 

The student must be able to:

• Identify and evaluate the work environment in an enterprise.
• Assess whether the working environment is in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.
• Suggest measures to reduce risk.

 

Skills:

• The student can plan and carry out a work environment survey, and can apply different theories, processes and methods to assess factors in the working environment.

 

General competence:

• The student can find laws and requirements that apply to an enterprise.
• The student can explain theory and terms in a simple way (written and oral).
• The student can exchange views with professionals and participate in professional discussions.
• The student can write a report from a work environment survey.
• The student has experience with laboratory work.
• The student has experience working in groups.

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

 Chemistry with Environmental Focus; Systematic HES-work

Teaching methods

 Lectures, laboratory and projects.

The mandatory laboratory course consists of several exercises, several days spread over the semester.  Due to practical reasons, not all exercises are performed several times. It is important that students knows the days they have to be present. Unexcused absence can lead to failed course.

Compulsory learning activities

 Passed mandatory laboratory course.

Assessment

Part 1: Prosject, accounts for 40 % of the final grade

Part 2: Written exam, 5 hours, accounts for 60 % of the final grade

The project deals with environmental factors in a chosen company or institution. Students work on the project under guidance during the semester. The final report will be considered.

Grade A-E (passed) / F (failed)

Both parts must be passed.

Examination support material

Written exam: None

More about examination support material