Course content

In present-day society it is necessary for organizations to operate in ways that ensure a high level of safety, both for people, environment, material equipment and safety in society. This applies to many kinds of activities: industrial production, transport, infrastructure management, health care and public and private services. For all kinds of risk-prone activities obtaining an acceptable level of safety depends both on human, technological, economic, organizational and political factors. The purpose of this course is to provide a general introduction to the field of risk and safety, with particular emphasis on central theories and methods. Topics that are addressed include: - Socio-technical Systems - System Analysis (MTO) - Different understandings of safety - Safety Culture - Work-performing and safety behaviour - Barriers - High Reliability Organizations (HRO) - Resilience - Significance of procedures and regulations - Organization theory and safety - Risk society - Goal conflicts and ethical dilemmas

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student shall:

• acquire skills that will be useful for those who will work with organizations and management, or have operative responsibility for an organization, in different types of private and public enterprises, where security is an important factor.
• have a basis for further studies and Research in safety in organizations and sociotechnical systems.

Skills - the students shall demonstrate the ability to:

• carry out exercises in which she/he has been given training and apply this, along with relevant theories and methods to concrete problems tied to safety and organization.

Learning methods and activities

2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of seminars every week throughout the semester. The compulsory activity can only be completed in the fall semester.

Compulsory assignments

• Approved term paper(s)

Further on evaluation

Form of assessment: Written exam, 4 hours.

Recommended previous knowledge

None.

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

To be given at the start of the course.

Credit reductions