Aim and Content

Aim:

To provide knowledge on noise and vibration as workplace health hazards.

Contents:

• Sound and noise; Acoustics, decibel, frequency analysis, legislation
• Noise exposure and hearing loss
• Trauma, tinnitus, damage to hair cells
• Temporary and permanent threshold shifts
• Otoacustic emissions
• Non-audiological effects of noise; cardiovascular effects, cognitive function, annoyance etc.
• Measurements of noise; strategy and instruments
• Noise measurements at workplace
• Calculation, interpretation and presentation of results from field excercise and finally written feedback report
• Hearing conservation program
• Noise control measures
• Control at source; Machines/tools
• Control of transmission; Room acoustics, barrieres, enclosure, etc.
• Personal hearing protection; Attenuation and leakages
• Whole-body and hand-arm vibrations; definitions, evaluation of exposure, regulations
• Monitoring and assessment of vibrations
• Prevalence of hearing loss in different work places
• Scientific articles on noise and vibration exposures;

reading and discussions

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes:

Knowledge

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

• describe the physical characteristics of noise and vibrations in the working environment
• describe the consequences to health and well-being of excessive exposure to noise
• describe the characteristics of whole-body and hand-arm vibrations and its health effects
• outline the range of approaches to risk reduction embodied in the hierarchy of control of noise and vibrations

Skills

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

• conduct field measurements in the industry to investigate and assess risks from noise and vibrations
• analyse field measurements (including dosimetry) of noise and vibrations in relation to risk of health effects and to current standards
• write a feedback report on noise and vibration measurements to the industry
• apply appropriate strategies for implementation advise on the need and means of control measures regarding exposure to noise and vibration by control at the source, at transmission and at the receiver

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

Course Unit Level

Master

Pre-requirements

Students admitted to a Masters 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 (26 hours), field work in the industry with assignment, student presentations and critical analysis of relevant scientific articles.

The field work carried out in the industry and the assignment is essential parts of the course, with work load distributed throughout the course.

The field works include preparatory theoretical and practical work, literature review, workplace visits, industrial process description, data collection/noise measurements, data analysis, reports/assignment and presentation of results and conclusions for discussion in the research group.

Assessment methods

Written exam (3hrs) and group presentation

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F