Accident Investigation (SAM600)

The course gives an introduction to how accidents are investigated, with special focus on accident theories and methods for accident investigations.


Course description for study year 2025-2026

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)
Facts

Course code

SAM600

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

Norwegian

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by August 20th for the autumn semester.

The main focus of the course is on accident theories and methods for accident investigations, where the following topics are emphasised: why accidents should be investigated, what an accident is, causes to accidents, theories about accidents and safety, accident models to be used in investigations, commonly used analytical methods (e.g. MTO and STEP), set of rules relevant for accident investigations, the accident investigation process, practical aspects when carrying out accident investigations, typical challenges when investigating accidents, information collection, interviews, and reliability of witnesses.

Learning outcome

Knowledge about:

  • Accident models and theories about causes to accidents.
  • The accident investigation process and how accident investigations are carried out.
  • Analytical methods that are commonly used in accident investigations.
  • The role of accident investigations in the work on safety and how accident investigations can contribute to improve the safety through learning.

Skills:

  • Be able to assess strengths and weaknesses with different accident models and theories about causes to accidents, in addition to commonly used analytical methods in accident investigations.
  • Be able to use these models, theories and methods to understand accident investigations and solve problems related to accident investigations.

General competence:

  • Be able to analyse how accident models and theories influence the accident investigation process and the conclusion about the causes to accidents.
  • Be able to analyse how challenges with carrying out accident investigations influence the accident investigation process.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Project work and oral exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Project work 1/2 3 Months Letter grades All
Oral exam 1/2 20 Minutes Letter grades None permitted

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

Morten Sommer

Head of Department:

Tore Markeset

Method of work

A mix of lectures and discussions in classroom and project work in groups. Supervision will be given when wanted.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Accident Investigation (MTS110_1) 10

Open for

Only available for master students at the ordinary master studies at UiS (not UiS' after and further education, EVU).

Admission requirements

Must meet the admission requirements of one of the study programmes the course is open for.

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto