Trondheim’s Top 5 Unregulated Health Hazards

As both a lawyer and a public health professional, my perception is keenly tuned to pick up on health and safety risks.

One constant tension in the public health realm is deciding what should be regulated, and what is just a normal hazard of living. In state government I had a front row seat to this balancing act. Things that make the cut for regulation in Maryland include transparent glass doors,* fish pedicures, marriage brokers, raw milk, wine-infused frozen desserts, sunglasses frames, and powdered alcohol. Things that don’t make the cut (despite substantial lobbying) include cedar hope chests,** ear-tipped cats, and cuddling shops. (I could write a whole blog about these things, but since this is a blog about Norway, I’ll restrain myself to just a couple of footnotes below.)

Trondheim seems to draw the regulatory boundaries a little differently, so I wanted to let you know what kinds of unregulated health hazards you can enjoy when you come to visit us.

 

Granåsen Ski Jump

One litmus test for whether something should appear on this list is how much time I’ve spent googling how to try [that thing]. The Granåsen ski jump easily makes the cut. I have been researching how Gavin and I can learn ski jumping. There are surprisingly few YouTube tutorials or advertisements for camps or lessons. I went as far as emailing the Chairman of the Granåsen Stadium Association to ask if he knew anyone who could teach us. He has not responded.

With two ski jumping hills and a stadium that seats over 20,000 people, Granåsen is a regular stop on the ski jumping world cup. On the days that the hills are not in use (which is most days), it’s possible for anyone to climb the hundreds of stairs to the top. There are no guards or fences to prevent you from getting onto the inrun (ramp) or landing hill, or even any signs warning about the dangers. If we wanted, Gavin and I could hike up there, strap on our roller skis, and try to match Daiki Ito for the most creative descent.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRYEUlDU0E4&w=560&h=315]

In fact, Trondheim encourages people to make a trip to the top. It’s promoted as one of the best places to have a summer picnic and take in the midnight sun.

I, for one, am glad that access is not more strictly controlled. It is a totally awesome view of the city, and it put to bed any notion that I could become the next Sarah Hendrickson. So, maybe the lack of regulation actually makes Granåsen safer in this case.

So mom, please rest easy knowing I’m probably not going to try this. Maybe we’ll try the ski jump simulator in Oslo instead.

 

Unpasteurized Soft Cheeses

Anyone who follows Maryland politics closely may be aware of the ongoing controversy about the legalization of raw milk. There is a vocal contingent of people who want it, and I’ve even heard rumors of a milk smuggling ring where bootleggers buy it in Pennsylvania and sell it to Marylanders on the black market.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_P5Y4aVKOs&w=560&h=315]

As you might guess, the health department has historically not supported the legalization of raw milk, because pasteurization exists for a reason. And as I have warned the Maryland General Assembly, West Virginia’s legalization story should be heeded as a cautionary tale.

But why do people want unpasteurized dairy? Apparently some think it has special health powers. Perhaps others just want to consume a “living food.” Regardless of your motivation, unpasteurized cheeses are on sale in Røros. I tried raw milk in Iceland and thought it was fine, but I experienced no improved health effects. No need to risk e.coli here – we’re not on the Norwegian health system yet!

Learn about the dangers of raw milk:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIYqwCnPFBo&w=560&h=315]

 

Sjøbadet Fjord-Swimming Club

 

Sjøbadet is a year-round fjord-swimming club in Trondheim. It is basically a diving board and a couple of showers, so you can swim in the fjord and then warm up before leaving. When Andrew visited, I pretty much begged him to go with me, because I wanted us to do something extreme. (July is not the most extreme month in Norway, so options were limited.) Unfortunately, Sjøbadet was locked on the day we went, so we didn’t have the opportunity.

However, if we’d been successful, the water temperature on that balmy 53-degree summer morning was probably somewhere between 55.6 and 61.2 degrees (the average high and low for July).

By comparison, most US swimming pools are between 81 and 84 degrees, and most hot tubs are between 102 and 104 degrees. USA Triathlon (the sport’s regulating body) does not permit open water swimming if the water temperature is below 51 degrees. Such a regulation here would keep Sjøbadet closed for at least seven months of the year. Seems like that might be reasonable.

 

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

I’ve written before about Trondheim’s fitness culture, and their commitment to exercise equipment in public spaces is one manifestation of that. I don’t think it’s that dangerous to climb a rock wall or try whatever this thing is in the normal course of your day, but in the US some lawyer would probably deem it a liability. I think it’s pretty awesome.

What does strike me as dangerous though are some of the trampolines that people have. I’ve included some of my favorite hazardous trampolines for your enjoyment.

 

Roadside Driver Eye-Exams

When I got my driver’s license in North Carolina – and when I renewed it in Maryland – I had to take an eye exam at the DMV to make sure my vision was good enough. Here, apparently you just pull over and take this test and then report yourself on the honor system?! That hardly seems safe!

 

Norway: Know before you go.

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* Did you know that it is a misdemeanor in Maryland to fail to properly mark a transparent glass door? The penalty is only a $50 fine, but you also end up with a criminal record.

** Did you know that 34 people in the US have died inside a cedar hope chest since 1996? That’s like 0.000000105% of all Americans!