The course aims to provide an in-depth analysis, following a concise introduction to the general principles governing the protection of health and safety in the workplace and the legal framework concerning related liabilities, of the topics surrounding the administrative liability of entities pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 231 of 8 June 2001, as well as the adoption, implementation, and effective application of organizational and management models in the context of occupational risk prevention.

Particular attention will be devoted to the examination of voluntary standards, both national and international in origin, which are relevant for the development of corporate organizational systems that comply with legal requirements and are suitable to ensure effective risk management in the field of occupational health and safety. A specific focus will be placed on the international standard UNI ISO 45001:2018, regarded as a technical and organizational tool designed to support the adoption of occupational health and safety management systems aligned with current regulatory requirements. For this purpose, the course will also frame the UNI-INAIL Guidelines: 2001 and the now-superseded BS OHSAS 18001:2007 standard, in order to reconstruct the evolution of the relevant voluntary regulatory framework.

The ISO 45001:2018 standard will be analyzed as an operational standard capable, pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 5, of Legislative Decree no. 81 of 9 April 2008, of serving as a foundation for the development of effective organizational and management models in line with prevention obligations, and potentially exempting entities from administrative liability under Legislative Decree no. 231 of 8 June 2001.

The primary objective of the course is to provide participants with the necessary skills to effectively correlate the legal obligations incumbent upon the employer with the most effective organizational and managerial methodologies, based on a systemic approach to corporate practices in the field of risk prevention and protection. In this perspective, the course aims to promote the ability to design, implement, and maintain an Occupational Health and Safety Management System that not only ensures compliance with legal requirements, but also contributes to the establishment of a corporate safety framework consistent with the principles of corporate social responsibility and internationally recognized best practices.

Particular emphasis will therefore be placed on the integration between binding regulations—which impose on the employer the duty to organize production activities in such a way as to safeguard the physical and mental integrity of workers—and the contents of voluntary standards, which constitute qualified tools for structuring and continuously improving organizational models oriented toward prevention. The approach proposed is thus managerial and systemic in nature, aimed at enhancing the role of corporate governance in risk prevention and in the promotion of a safe and healthy working environment.

Course Structure

The course is organized into the following modules, each designed to provide an in-depth exploration of specific topics consistent with the overarching educational objectives, and scheduled according to the following timeline:

1. Sources, principles, underlying philosophy, and fundamental institutions of occupational health and safety law (duration: 8 hours)
The first module will be dedicated to an in-depth examination of the current regulatory framework governing health and safety in the workplace, with particular reference to Legislative Decree no. 81 of 9 April 2008. The analysis will be conducted in light of constitutional principles, European Union law, and established case law of the Italian Court of Cassation, with specific attention also given to secondary legislation and the role of collective bargaining agreements.

2. Organizational models and the administrative liability of entities (duration: 8 hours)
The second module will focus on the legal framework governing the administrative liability of legal persons under Legislative Decree no. 231 of 8 June 2001, with particular emphasis on the adoption of organizational, management, and control models capable of preventing criminal offences related to occupational health and safety. The course will highlight the interconnections and complementarities with the organizational models governed by Article 30 of Legislative Decree no. 81/2008.

3. Systematic analysis of UNI ISO 45001:2018 (duration: 15 hours)
The third module will be entirely devoted to the study of UNI ISO 45001:2018, the international reference standard for occupational health and safety management systems. The course will delve into the objectives, scope, and structure of the standard (High Level Structure), as well as the operational modalities for its implementation. A critical comparison will be drawn with the former BS OHSAS 18001:2007 standard and the UNI-INAIL Guidelines of 2001.

4. UNI EN ISO 19011:2012 and audit management (duration: 5 hours)
The fourth and final module will focus on the analysis of the UNI EN ISO 19011:2012 standard, which defines the principles for planning, conducting, and evaluating management system audits, as well as the competence, behavior, and professionalism requirements for auditors. The objective is to equip students with practical tools to understand and apply effective auditing techniques, particularly in connection with the implementation and monitoring of organizational models adopted pursuant to Article 30 of Legislative Decree no. 81/2008.

TRADE UNION AND LABOUR LAWS (PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS)

a) Knowledge and Understanding
The student shall demonstrate the acquisition of a solid theoretical and systematic understanding of the subject, including through the critical analysis of the teaching materials used during the course and the recommended readings. Particular emphasis is placed on demonstrating awareness of the relevant legal principles, regulatory sources, and institutional frameworks.

b) Applying Knowledge and Understanding
The student shall demonstrate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge by formulating coherent and legally sound arguments concerning the implementation and practical application of corporate management systems, with specific reference to their regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness in relation to the organizational models prescribed by current legislation.

c) Making Judgements
The student shall exhibit independent critical and evaluative skills, being capable of integrating the acquired knowledge in order to formulate reasoned and personal judgments on the legal institutions addressed. This includes engaging in comparative analysis of organizational models and identifying interpretative and practical issues emerging from legal practice.

d) Communication Skills
The student shall be able to communicate their knowledge clearly, persuasively, and with technical precision, demonstrating command of legal terminology and the ability to effectively convey acquired concepts even within professional or interdisciplinary contexts.

e) Learning Skills
The student shall demonstrate the development of an autonomous and critical approach to study, enabling continued exploration of the subject matter beyond the academic course and keeping abreast of regulatory, case-law, and doctrinal developments in the field.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

During the lectures, materials may be distributed or indicated for retrieval by students through the Moodle platform (blended.uniurb.it), and short exercises may also be carried out.

Teaching

The teaching activity is primarily conducted through traditional lectures, while ensuring the broadest possible active engagement of students, including through practical exercises and guided discussions of case studies, with the aim of fostering critical learning and the practical contextualization of theoretical content.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory.

Course books

Required Texts:

Antonio Terracina and Lucina Mercadante, Il sistema di gestione della sicurezza sul lavoro: La UNI ISO 45001-2018. Guida all'adozione, certificazione e migrazione, EPC Editore, 3rd Edition, 2018, or the most recent edition available.

Supplementary Materials
(Optional or for further reading)

It is also recommended to read:
Angelo Delogu, L’asseverazione dei modelli di organizzazione e di gestione della sicurezza sul lavoro di cui all’art. 30 del d.lgs. n. 81/2008: analisi e prospettive, in Diritto della Sicurezza sul Lavoro, 2018, no. 1, part II, pp. 7–51, freely downloadable from the Moodle platform.

For the consultation of legal and technical sources, students are invited to refer to the full text of the ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 18002 standards, the UNI-INAIL Guidelines (2001), and the Guidelines for auditing management systems (UNI EN ISO 19011:2018).
Additional legal sources may be accessed through the website www.normattiva.it.
It is also strongly recommended to consult the online platform of the Olympus Observatory at: https://olympus.uniurb.it/.

Assessment

Student assessment, aimed at evaluating their communicative competence, as well as their linguistic and argumentative abilities, will be conducted through an oral examination.

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed by means of three or more questions. The final result will be expressed on a scale of thirty points. The assessment criteria and corresponding scores are established according to the following scale:

• Less than 18/30 – Insufficient level: the candidate does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”;

• 18–20/30 – Sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”;

• 21–23/30 – Fairly sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding” and “applying knowledge and understanding”;

• 24–26/30 – Good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”; “applying knowledge and understanding”; and “making judgements”;

• 27–29/30 – Very good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”; “applying knowledge and understanding”; “making judgements”; and “communication skills”;

• 30/30 or 30/30 with honours – Excellent level: the candidate fully achieves the expected learning outcomes set out

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students will also have access to the materials used during the lectures, which will be made available on the Moodle platform.

They will likewise be required to study the same texts and consult the indicated sources.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory.

Course books

Required Texts:

Antonio Terracina and Lucina Mercadante, Il sistema di gestione della sicurezza sul lavoro: La UNI ISO 45001-2018. Guida all'adozione, certificazione e migrazione, EPC Editore, 3rd Edition, 2018, or the most recent edition available.

Supplementary Materials
(Optional or for further reading)

It is also recommended to read:
Angelo Delogu, L’asseverazione dei modelli di organizzazione e di gestione della sicurezza sul lavoro di cui all’art. 30 del d.lgs. n. 81/2008: analisi e prospettive, in Diritto della Sicurezza sul Lavoro, 2018, no. 1, part II, pp. 7–51, freely downloadable from the Moodle platform.

For the consultation of legal and technical sources, students are invited to refer to the full text of the ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 18002 standards, the UNI-INAIL Guidelines (2001), and the Guidelines for auditing management systems (UNI EN ISO 19011:2018).
Additional legal sources may be accessed through the website www.normattiva.it.
It is also strongly recommended to consult the online platform of the Olympus Observatory at: https://olympus.uniurb.it/.

Assessment

Student assessment, aimed at evaluating their communicative competence, as well as their linguistic and argumentative abilities, will be conducted through an oral examination.

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed by means of three or more questions. The final result will be expressed on a scale of thirty points. The assessment criteria and corresponding scores are established according to the following scale:

• Less than 18/30 – Insufficient level: the candidate does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”;

• 18–20/30 – Sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”;

• 21–23/30 – Fairly sufficient level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding” and “applying knowledge and understanding”;

• 24–26/30 – Good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”; “applying knowledge and understanding”; and “making judgements”;

• 27–29/30 – Very good level: the candidate achieves, in particular, the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”; “applying knowledge and understanding”; “making judgements”; and “communication skills”;

• 30/30 or 30/30 with honours – Excellent level: the candidate fully achieves the expected learning outcomes set out under “knowledge and understanding”; “applying knowledge and understanding”; “making judgements”; “communication skills”; and “learning skills”.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The Department hosts the Olympus Observatory for the permanent monitoring of legislation and case law concerning occupational health and safety.

This Observatory represents a point of reference at both the national and European levels for the critical and systematic analysis of legislative, jurisprudential, and collective bargaining developments in the field of occupational risk prevention. It is structured through a range of scientific and dissemination activities, including, in particular:

– the management of a specialized and freely accessible website, containing regularly updated databases on legislation, case law, and collective bargaining agreements in the field of occupational health and safety;
– the publication of thematic insights, specialized reviews, “Focus” papers on current issues, and the “Olympus Working Papers,” aimed at disseminating scholarly contributions and promoting critical analysis of key legal issues in the field;
– the editorial direction and coordination of the peer-reviewed scientific e-journal Diritto della sicurezza sul lavoro (DSL), ranked as a Class A journal, with an ISSN, a qualified editorial board, an international scientific committee, and peer-review procedures, dedicated to in-depth legal analysis of workplace safety matters;
– the organization of seminars and conferences — including internationally significant events — such as the International Festival on Occupational Health and Safety, which promotes dialogue among scholars, practitioners, and institutional actors.

Configured as a public and open-access service, the Olympus Observatory constitutes a valuable educational and scientific resource for students enrolled in the degree programme. Students may consult the legal and jurisprudential resources available on the platform to deepen their understanding of course topics and to support the drafting of their final dissertations. Furthermore, by participating in the events organized by the Observatory, students have the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field and to explore the most complex and current legal issues related to prevention.

Website: http://olympus.uniurb.it/