Üsküdar University Occupational Health and Safety Laboratory was established as an advanced practice center providing practical and experimental training for the purpose of preventing occupational accidents and occupational diseases and identifying physical, chemical, and biological risk factors in working environments.
- Main Purpose: To enable students in the Occupational Health and Safety program to measure and assess the risks that may be encountered in working environments using technical equipment in accordance with international standards and to learn by simulating preventive measures in compliance with legislation within the laboratory environment.
- Academic Contribution: The laboratory transforms students’ theoretical knowledge of occupational safety legislation, risk analysis methods, and ergonomics into physical measurement competencies. By concretizing hazard sources and near-miss event models in industrial facilities, it supports students in internalizing evidence-based proactive (preventive) OHS approaches.
Devices and Technical Equipment Available in the Laboratory
The laboratory infrastructure contains technical device groups capable of performing the physical environmental measurements that an occupational safety specialist would need in the field and simulating the use of personal protective equipment. The equipment available in the laboratory within the scope of its Key Features is as follows:
- Noise Measurement Devices (Decibel Meters / Dosimeters): Digital acoustic devices that measure instantaneous sound levels in the working environment and the cumulative noise dose to which workers are exposed throughout their working hours with high precision.
- Lighting Measurement Devices (Lux Meters): Measurement equipment that monitors light intensity and lighting adequacy in different working areas, from offices to heavy industrial workstations, according to international standards (EN 12464).
- Thermal Comfort Measurement Stations (Psychrometers and Air Velocity Meters): Integrated sensor systems that measure ambient temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and air velocity parameters to determine workers’ thermal comfort levels (e.g., the WBGT index).
- Gas and Dust Measurement Devices (Portable Gas Detectors and Dust Samplers): Detectors that monitor the concentration of toxic or explosive gases in the air, respirable dust (PM2.5 / PM10) levels, and chemical vapor exposure.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Station: Standard industrial PPE display and application kits consisting of helmets, safety harnesses, masks in different protection classes (FFP1, FFP2, FFP3), protective goggles, safety footwear, and chemical protective clothing.
- Ergonomic Analysis and Anthropometric Measurement Tools: Anthropometric sets and ergonomic models used to prevent workers’ postural disorders and measure musculoskeletal system loads.
Research and Application Areas
The applied curricula carried out in the laboratory simulate all operational steps of occupational health and safety processes in industrial facilities:
- Measurement and Analysis of Physical Risk Factors: Measuring noise, vibration, insufficient lighting, and thermal comfort parameters in working areas using devices and testing whether they exceed the limit values (OEL).
- Chemical and Biological Hazard Controls: Modeling gas dispersion scenarios in enclosed environments and examining dust and chemical exposure limits in accordance with legislation.
- Risk Assessment and Safety Reporting: Identifying hazards on simulated workstations in the laboratory and preparing risk analysis reports in accordance with technical standards using methods such as Fine-Kinney or Matrix.
- Personal Protective Equipment Selection and Ergonomics: Determining the most appropriate PPE combinations for sector-specific risks (construction, chemical, mining, etc.), testing correct-use protocols, and designing ergonomic workspaces.
Contributions to Students and the Industry
The Occupational Health and Safety Laboratory prepares students for the industry as professionals who aim for zero accidents by developing their analytical measurement skills and regulatory reflexes.
- Field Experience and Metrics Discipline: Students gain the discipline of reporting and verifying risks in the working environment with numerical data through industrial testing and measurement devices rather than relying on assumptions.
- Industry Employment Potential: Graduates who have full proficiency in the devices and risk management simulations available in this laboratory can quickly become employed in heavy industrial facilities, construction and building projects, factories, corporate companies, and Occupational Health and Safety Joint Health and Safety Units (OHS JHSUs) under titles such as “Occupational Safety Specialist,” “OHS Technician,” or “Risk Analysis Coordinator.”
