Arbeidslasten

Arbeidslasten is a term used in Nordic and Dutch contexts to describe the loads or demands placed on a system or person through work. The meaning varies by discipline, and the term is applied in both occupational health and structural engineering to refer to different kinds of demands.

In occupational health and ergonomics, arbeidslasten refer to the demands placed on workers by tasks, work organization, and the environment. This includes physical exertion, static postures, repetition, pace and time pressure, cognitive requirements, and psychosocial factors such as workload, decision complexity, and social relations. Excessive or poorly designed workloads can affect safety, health, performance, and well-being. Assessment methods combine subjective evaluations—such as perceived workload scales—with objective indicators like heart rate, energy expenditure, error rates, and fatigue measures. Interventions aim to redesign tasks, adjust staffing and scheduling, improve tools and interfaces, and optimize work environments to reduce physical and cognitive strain.

In structural engineering and construction, arbeidslasten denote the external loads that a structure must support during its service life. Typical categories include dead loads (self-weight of the structure and fixed elements), live loads (occupants, furniture, movable equipment), and environmental loads (wind, snow, rain, temperature effects), as well as seismic loads where relevant. Designers use codes and standards to combine these loads into design demand patterns, applying safety factors to ensure strength and serviceability under expected conditions. Values depend on use, climate, regulations, and local conditions.

Overall, arbeidslasten reflect the balance between demands and capacities within a work system or built environment, guiding risk assessment, design, and management to maintain safety and performance.