Syllabus 2007/2008 MAM670

Syllabus academic year 2007/2008

WORKING ENVIRONMENT, TRAINEE COURSE

MAM670

Higher education credits: 7,5. Grading scale: UG. Level: G2 (First level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish. Optional for: IBYA3, IBYI3, IBYV3. Course coordinator: Lars-Göran Swensson, Lars-Goran.Swensson@design.lth.se, Ergonomi och aerosolteknologi. Prerequisites: 82credits in the program. Assessment: For a passing grade, the student must actively participate in the obligatory portions: introduction (the traineeship can begin, at the earliest, two weeks after the introduction), a four-week traineeship (at a relevant workplace arranged by the student in which the course requirements can be fulfilled), regular communication with the advisor (according to advisors instructions), oral presentation at a concluding seminar, passing grade on a written report. Further information: The course can be carried out during the summer (but not between the first and second year of study) or in the spring of the third year. The course introduction is offered twice a year: at the beginning and directly after the conclusion of spring term. Home page: http://www.eat.lth.se.

Aim
The aim of the course is to complement and expand the obligatory traineeship included in the Bachelor of Science level civil engineering programmes specializing in architecture, railway construction or road and traffic technology with a relevant, four-week civil engineering traineeship. The purpose is to link the training programmes more closely to practically applied engineering aspects in order to graduate civil engineers who are more directly and operatively attractive on the labour market.

In addition, the course aims for the students to:

acquire fundamental knowledge that will enable them to consider work science aspects in their future places of work.
understand the interaction of work environment factors of a technological, economic, medical and psychological nature. acquire basic skills in identifying and solving work science problems in existing settings as well as in the design of new work organizations, jobs and workplaces.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

1) Report on sound/noise with respect to:

· general concepts and theories used to describe and analyse work environments

· how people and work are affected

· definitions of magnitude, their measurement and evaluation

· optimal levels for comfort and how prospective limits are specified

· organizational and technical principles for solving problems

2) Report on vibrations with respect to the same 5 criteria.

3) Report on lighting with respect to the same 5 criteria.

4) Report on thermal climate with respect to the same 5 criteria.

5) Report on non-ionizing radiation with respect to the same 5 criteria.

6) Report on chemical health risks with respect to the same 5 criteria.

7) Report on physical ergonomics with respect to the same 5 criteria.

8) Report on risks for accidents with respect to the same 5 criteria.

9) Report on psychological and social aspects (motivation, self-control, influence, work management climate, stimulation, commitment, camaraderie, job requirements, strain, groups, group process, power, conflicts, mental health) with respect to the same 5 criteria.

10) Describe how combinations of factors influence people and work.

11) Describe different work organization models (characteristics, history, organizational structure, management, cooperation).

12) Describe how work environment is regulated according to labour market legislation, regulations and contracts.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

Systematically survey, analyse and suggest improvements in existing work environments as well as design new work organizations, jobs and workplaces with respect to:

health risks

conditions that promote health

criteria for comfort, satisfaction and personal development

different production conditions and demands

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

Present an oral and written report of the work carried out.

Contents
The course deals with topics that in a wide sense affect work environments (physical environmental factors, psychological and social aspects, work organizational models), can cause poor health, dissatisfaction and discomfort or that can contribute to promoting healthy conditions, satisfaction and comfort. The workplace/industry related project involves surveying and documentation according to the following points, as well as the presentation and defence of a seminar report. For a passing grade, the report must contain the following parts:

· summary of different physical work environment factors (noise, vibrations, lighting, climate, non-ionizing radiation, chemical health risks, physical ergonomics, risks for accidents), psychological and social aspects as well as work organizational aspects in the chosen area of engineering

· work environment analysis of an existing document or the design of a document, the purpose of which is to direct production/work environment efforts in the desired manner

· survey of the work environment for two different occupational groups/roles, one more occupationally-oriented, the other more management-oriented.

Literature
Bohgard M, (ed.), Ericson M, Karlsson S, Lövsund P, Odenrick P: Arbete Människa Teknik. Arbetarskyddnämden, 2005.
Relevant publications from Arbetsmiljöverket (AFS) (Swedish Work Environment Authority), see http://www.av.se/
Remaining course literature will be announced at the introduction.