Program Overview

Course Overview

Course Description

The course TPK5165, Major Accident Analysis and Prevention, provides both overall and in-depth insight into major accidents across various industries, including aerospace, aviation, process industries, maritime, land transportation, and oil & gas sectors. Students will examine real-world accident cases through multiple accident causation theories and models, such as sequential, epidemiological, and systemic approaches.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge: The students shall acquire a comprehensive understanding of the underlying latent causes behind major accidents and the methodologies to identify, prevent, and mitigate them.
• Skills: Students shall be able to analyze major accidents and identify underlying latent causes. By applying theoretical frameworks, students will learn to develop strategies to prevent and mitigate the impacts of such accidents.
• General Competence: Students shall understand the importance of prevention and mitigation of major accidents.

Course Details

Course Content

This course emphasizes identifying root causes, contributing factors, and organizational failings that lead to catastrophic events. It also covers accident prevention, with a focus on safety barriers and the role of safety culture in preventing future incidents.

Learning Methods and Activities

• Lectures
• Exercises
• Project work A mandatory project shall be carried out either as individual or group work and will count 100% in the evaluation. The lectures, exercises, and mandatory project are in English.

Compulsory Assignments

• Two assignments must be completed, and they will be further developed into a mandatory semester project that counts for 100% of the final evaluation.
• Each assignment must be presented at workshops, and both must be approved in order to qualify for submitting the semester project report.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

None.

Course Materials

The course material can be downloaded.

Subject Areas

• Production and Quality Engineering
• Statistics
• Technological subjects

Examination

Examination Arrangement

Examination arrangement: Assignment Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary Examination

• Weighting: 100/100
• Date: Submission
• Time: 14:00
• Exam system: Inspera Assessment

Course Information

Credits

7.5

Level

Second degree level

Course Start

Autumn 2025

Duration

1 semester

Language of Instruction

English

Location

Trondheim