A perspective on the occupational health and safety course in interior architecture undergraduate education

Abstract

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and interior architecture are complementary disciplines that mutually reinforce the necessity of designing spaces that are safe, healthy, and ergonomic for users. Integrating OHS into interior architecture education enables students to create designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing and functional but also conscious of human health and safety. This study examines the current state of OHS courses in interior architecture programs in Turkey using content analysis. Within the scope of the research, 76 universities offering interior architecture or interior architecture and environmental design programs were evaluated out of a total of 208 universities, and it was found that 35 of them included OHS courses. The data source consisted of course information packages published on university websites, including course objectives, learning outcomes, content, and weekly schedules. Content analysis revealed that OHS courses could be classified under eight main themes. The findings indicate that course content primarily focuses on legislation and theoretical knowledge, whereas design-related factors, ergonomics, and chemical and biological hazards are insufficiently addressed. This situation limits interior architecture students’ ability to anticipate workplace risks and design safe environments. The results suggest that OHS courses should be made more comprehensive, practical, and multidisciplinary. It is recommended that course content be restructured to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Accordingly, the position of OHS education within the interior architecture curriculum should be strengthened, and courses should be approached not merely as a requirement but as a means of fostering professional awareness.