Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Chemicals
Ph.D. -course
- ECTS credits
- 5
- Teaching semesters
- Spring
- Course code
- INTH931
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Course content
Objectives:
To obtain detailed knowledge on chemical exposure assessment in occupational settings
Contents:
- Occupational chemical agents
- Health effects of chemical exposure
- Regulations and limit values
- Risk assessment and chemical exposure
- Monitoring, sampling and analysis of chemical agents at the workplace
- Field exercises with exposure measurements in the industry
- Biomonitoring - Chemical exposure assessment in epidemiological studies
- Control measures to reduce chemical exposure
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:
Knowledge:
The student can:
- describe main chemical hazards in industrial settings
- explain occupational health effects related to airborne chemical exposure
- recognize and explain strategies and methods for air sampling and analysis of aerosols, fibres, gases and vapours
- describe examples of biomonitoring of chemical exposure
- describe control measures to reduce chemical exposure in the industry
Skills:
The student can:
- select and use relevant methods and strategies for sampling of chemical hazards
- use the results from exposure assessment in epidemiological studies
- use the results from exposure assessment to suggest control measures
General competence:
The student can:
- demonstrate a scientific way of thinking and a critical approach to research results
- communicate and disseminate knowledge in academic oral presentations and writing
Study period
Credits (ECTS)
Language of instruction
Pre-requirements
Minimum a master¿s level of knowledge in occupational health, occupational hygiene, public health, global health or other relevant health related topics, according to the requirements for the PhD programme.
Proficiency in English at a level corresponding to TOEFL 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or IELTS band 6.0 is expected.
Compulsory Requirements
1. Two full-day field exercises (each 8 hours) in an industry, and participation in a group presenting a report showing the results from the field work. The presentation is oral, and all participants must present a part of the work. The report must be 4-6 pages and written for the industry.
2. One individual assignment of about 20 pages addressing a relevant topic in occupational health/hygiene
Form of assessment
Report and student presentation of results from the field work (50%) and the individual assignments (50%)
Grading scale A-F (F = fail).
Students who receive the grade ¿F¿ are allowed to re-sit according to standard procedures at the University of Bergen.
Who may participate
Supplementary course information
The total number of student investment time is 125. The course lasts four weeks and comprises of
-Lectures online (30 hours)
-Group work and group discussions online (20 hours)
-Quizzes (2 weekly, in total 4 hours) -Two days of field exercises in the industry one day for preparatory work (8 hours) and one day for exposure measurements (8 hours).
Preparatory theoretical and practical work for the field work, literature review, writing up an industrial process description, preparing instruments/surveys, data collection/exposure measurements, data analysis, evaluation of data (25 hours)
-Presentation of results and conclusions for discussion among all students and the occupational and environmental research group (5 hours)
An individual assignment based on a relevant topic from an industry (25 hours)