KJM1100 Health, Environment and Safety Course description

The course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts and aspects of health, safety and the environment (HSE) that are relevant for laboratory work in the Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry programme.

In this course, the students will gain knowledge of risks associated with laboratory work, and the measures that must be taken to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure own and others' safety in the laboratories. Through the course, the students will learn how to use the substance index and safety data sheets.

The course is mandatory for all students on the Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry programme. The students must have passed the course in order to take part in the laboratory courses on the programme.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of his or her own responsibility and duties, and is familiar with the general division of responsibility when conducting work in the laboratories
• is familiar with laws and regulations that are relevant for work in laboratories and with chemicals
• is familiar with the substance index and safety data sheets
• is familiar with security and personal protective equipment available in the laboratories
• is familiar with the system and procedures for reporting HSE non-conformities, accidents and near-accidents
• is familiar with the laboratories’ contingency plans
• is familiar with rules for order and conduct in the laboratories

Skills

The student

• is capable of obtaining information about chemicals from safety data sheets
• is capable of applying relevant parts of the CLP Regulation in order to classify dilutions of chemicals and chemical solutions
• can assess security measures and use of protective equipment to ensure that work conducted in the laboratory is safe

General competence

The student

• is capable of conducting HSE evaluations in order to handle chemicals in accordance with regulations
• is capable of acting in accordance with rules and procedures for safe work in the laboratories
• is aware of HSE to safeguard own and other people’s safety in the laboratories

The teaching is organised as digital course modules, lectures and exercises.

The course will address sustainability from a societal perspective. Societal institutions, technical infrastructures, and culture constitute frames within which practices evolve. The course will provide the candidates with perspectives for critically analysing the role these societal frames have in inhibiting and enabling a transition towards sustainability, and for engaging in constructive discussions of how sustainable practices can be facilitated at a societal level. Cases will be used to stimulate interdisciplinary investigation of these issues. The syllabus may be abbreviated and adapted to fit the interest of the participants of the course in cooperation with the supervisors.

The course will address the following, non-exclusive list of themes:

• • Predominant economic systems and alternatives, including circular economy
  • Human-centric world views and alternatives, including more-than-human perspectives
  • The cultural and political properties of technological systems and their role in societal exclusion and inclusion
  • The interplay between algorithms and social practices

Portfolio assessment

The portfolio must include:

• Multiple-choice tests
• Responsibility statement

Lectures, workshops, seminars.

Active participation in the seminars is necessary to adequately understand the course material and themes. Participation is therefore mandatory, and candidates are expected to attend all days of teaching and required to attend at least 80 percent of teaching days. In special cases of documented illness, the course leader may accept exceptions to this requirement. In these cases, lack of participation can be substituted with alternative arrangements such as active reading of the relevant syllabus literature. Course requirements are assessed as confirmed or not confirmed. The course requirement must be completed and confirmed within the given deadline in order to have the right to submit a final essay.

The course requirements are:

• A plenary presentation on a subject decided in collaboration with the course lecturer.
• A prepared opposition to at least one other presentation.
• 80 % attendance is required. 

Confirmed participation in the course and accepted final essay.

• Individual essay (4000-5000 words). The essay will discuss the most important theoretical aspects from the syllabus, with relevance for the candidate’s PhD project. Cover page, illustrations, and list of references come in addition.