Aim and Content

Aim:

To acquire knowledge about health hazards related to exposure to biological factors and different climatic conditions at the workplace.

Contents:

• Sources of bioaerosols (bacteria, viruses, moulds, cell fragments)
• Exposure to biological factors in the work environment
• Health effects of biological factors at work
• Monitoring biological factors
• Preventive measures regarding biological hazards
• Parameters of indoor air; air contaminants and thermal factors
• Indoor air and health
• Monitoring and assessment of indoor air
• Improvement of indoor air quality
• Heat stress at work
• Cold work environment

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes:

Knowledge

At the end of the course, the students shall be able to:

• describe different types of bioaersols and their sources
• define the most relevant bioaerosols at various work places
• recognize and explain appropriate assessment methods for different classes of bioaerosols
• describe health effects caused by the different bioaerosols
• explain exposure prevention
• describe work-related allergy; sources, agents, mechanisms
• describe health effects associated with poor indoor air quality
• describe thermal factors and indoor air contaminants
• explain ventilation systems in non-industrial buildings
• describe how to improve the indoor air quality
• describe effects of very hot and very cold work work environments on the employee

Skills

At the end of the course, the students shall be able to:

• plan and conduct indoor air assessments in non-industrial work places
• advice on how to perform a risk assessment and improve the indoor climate
• use appropriate assessment methods for different classes of bioaerosols
• produce a plan for the control of heat stress and cold climate for selected occupations

General competence

• integrate knowledge from different disciplines
• promote positive interaction and collaborative relationships between the different actors within occupational health
• a scientific way of thinking and a critical approach to research results
• written and oral communication and dissemination

Course offered (semester)

Spring 2014

Course Unit Level

Master

Pre-requirements

Students admitted to a Master`s degree Programme may join this course. A good Bachelor`s degree in Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences or Natural Sciences. Good knowledge of English.

Teaching Methods

The course lasts four weeks and comprises lectures, field work, group work, individual assignment, student presentations and critical analysis of relevant scientific articles.

The field work and the individual assignment are essential parts of the course, with work load distributed throughout the course.

The field work include preparatory theoretical and practical work, literature review, process description, data collection, data analysis, group assignment and presentation of results and conclusions for discussion in the research group.

The individual assignments comprise relevant case studies from different industries where the focus is on exposure assessment to bioaerosols, or heat stress, related health effects, and preventive measures to reduce such exposures. The final written assignment is accompanied with student presentation and discussion in the research group.

Assessment methods

Assingment, presentation of individual work

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F