Engineering risk management in organisaties

This course will discuss risk in a broad sense. Based on lectures and accounts of major accidents, a discussion is initiated on a topic related to engineering risk management in organisations. Major accidents and cause-effect mechanisms will be explained through short videos and longer documentaries on safety issues and risk mitigation. The students will be made familiar with several accidents that had a significant contribution to the field of safety science in general and risk management in organisations in particular.

Risk is conceptualized as a topic of uncertainty and possible loss from different perspectives (both safety and security). Topics are further elaborated, and theories/models/metaphors are taught by means of interactive discussions and tested by poll exercises. The effects of different justice concepts (restorative versus retributive) on risk reduction and safety reporting are introduced.

Throughout the course, several accidents and lessons learned will be explained. This includes the Titan submersible accident, which happened in the year 2023. The accidents will be used as a basis for active participation from the students concerning the course contents.

The following topics are discussed:

• Introduction and definition of risk concepts, such as hazard, loss, probability, frequency, threat

• Similarities and differences between safety and security risk

• Risk theories, models, concepts

• Risk assessment and risk mitigation methods

• Aspects of safe human performance, including cognitive bias and the role of operational procedures

• Organisational aspects such as safety management systems, reporting systems, and safety learning principles

• Restorative versus distributive justice as different approaches for organisational risk management

An individual, on-campus exam counts for 100% of the total grade (summative assessment). The exam is closed-book. The exam is digital and will be administered via the ANS platform. The exam will consist of several open-ended questions and/or multiple choice questions which need to be elaborated in a restricted time period. In order to pass the course, the grade on the exam has to be at least 6.0 out of 10.

For all courses of the minor PRD, final grades are rounded off to the nearest half point, except between 5 and 6. For grades between 5.0 and 6.0, a 5.5 and higher will be rounded up to a 6.0, and grades below 5.5 will be rounded down to 5.0. No final grades between 5.0 and 6.0 will be given.

If the final score is a passing grade, students are not allowed to the retake to obtain a higher grade, unless given explicit permission by the Board of Examiners of the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (Leiden University).

This course is part of the minor Public Risk and Disaster. This minor needs to be completed in one academic year. It is not possible to retake courses that you did not pass during the following academic year. If you think an exception to this rule applies to you, please contact the Board of Examiners of the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (Leiden University).

No matter what academic institution a student comes from, the minor Public Risk and Disaster falls under the course and examinations regulation of the bachelor Security Studies of Leiden University. These course rules are further expanded on in the rules and regulations of the Board of Examiners of the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (Leiden University). This Board of Examiners is also the relevant body for disputes.

Upon request, students have the right to inspect their assessed work for a period of 20 working days after the announcement of the results of the exam. During the inspection of the assessed work, it is not permitted to copy the underlying examination questions. If a student wishes to inspect the results, the student needs to contact the module manager via e-mail to make an appointment within the period of 20 working days after the announcement of the results. This appointment cannot take place online.