How to improve the working environment
– from science to knowledge-based tools
About this course
Without societal impact, research risks being invisible to those who need it most, particularly in occupational safety and health. This course focuses on translating scientific knowledge into preventive measures with societal impact.
Participants will be introduced to current scientific knowledge on organizational and psychosocial working environment factors, the work environment statistics on which these tools are built, and practical tools developed to support the prevention of work-related sickness absence and early withdrawal from work.
Main topics
The course will cover topics such as:
- Organization of work
- Working hours and scheduling, including shift and night work Dagfinn Matre
- Safety assessment of shift plans
- The traffic light model
- Workplace design
- Psychosocial working environment
- Leadership and management practices
- Psychological safety and trust
- Role clarity, social support, and workload
- Work demands, control, and autonomy
- Workplace design and job design
- Work–life balance
- From science to policy -societal impact
- Tripartite collaboration
- The Nordic Model
- Research and surveillance statistics
- Knowledge-based work environment tools
Course objectives
The course aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of organizational and psychosocial working environment factors and their importance for prevention. Participants will learn how to interpret surveillance and research-based statistics, use knowledge-based tools to identify and prioritize work-related risks, and apply this knowledge when designing preventive measures. The course also aims to strengthen participants’ ability to communicate the societal and organizational impact of prevention initiatives.
Target group
This course is intended for researchers, PhD students, specialists, and practitioners with an interest in occupational safety and health, prevention, and the translation of research into practice.
Subject background
The importance of translating research into practice has increased significantly across the Nordic countries and the European Union. Expectations regarding societal impact increasingly influence research funding, the evaluation of research quality, policymaking, and responses to societal challenges.
Within occupational safety and health, prevention is often framed as a cost. This course directs attention to the work itself and the work factors shown by research to reduce sickness absence, increase inclusion, and prevent early withdrawal from work.
Work-related sickness absence has significant societal consequences. In Norway alone, the societal cost of sickness absence was estimated at NOK 75 billion annually in 2018. Reducing the level of sickness absence is an important political priority, with the potential to reduce associated societal costs.
Course Summary |
|
| 19th – 21st of October 2027 | |
| Onsite course | |
| STAMI, Oslo, Norway | |
| Deadline 27th of August 2027 | |
| EUR 770 – 950 (depending on the choice of day package) | |
| Register now |
Price information
The price of the course consists of the course fee of EUR 600
and the day package of choice.
Day package I
This package includes:
- conference facilities and technical equipment
- course material
- coffees, lunches
- dinner on the evening of 19 October
- dinner and the social programme on the evening of 20 October. The social programme will be announced later.
We strongly encourage you to take part in the social programme, as this is a vital part of the NIVA course experience. We believe in the power of networking and strive to create an inspiring possibility for that through the social programme.
The total price of the course is EUR 950 (course fee EUR 600 + day package fee EUR 350).
Day package II
This package includes:
- conference facilities and technical equipment
- course material
- coffees, lunches
Kindly note that the day package II does not include dinners, nor the social programme.
The total price of the course is EUR 770 (course fee EUR 600 + day package fee EUR 170).
Accommodation
18th – 21st of October 2027 at Thon Hotel Gyldenløve, Oslo, Norway
NIVA has made a block reservation for the accommodation 18th – 21st of October 2027 at Thon Hotel Gyldenløve.
To book a room from the block, kindly make the reservation through this link (available until 2.9.2027).
The room price for a single standard room is NOK 2345 /approx. EUR 209 including breakfast.
The block reservation will be available until 2nd of September 2027.
General course fee and cancellation information
The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.
Travel arrangements
Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on practical arrangements. Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Our venues for organising courses have carefully considered accessibility to ensure they cater to the needs of all participants. For detailed information about the course venues accessibility features, please visit STAMI:s webpage.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received by 27th of August 2027: full refund
Cancellations received by 28th of August 2027 or later: no refund
NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.
The price is subject to minor changes.
Contact persons
Course leader
Elisabeth Goffeng, Project Leader, PhD, National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Norway.
email: Elisabeth.Goffeng@stami.no
In practical matters, please contact:
Nora Tobiasson, Project Manager at NIVA
email: nora.tobiasson@niva.org
