Swedish Work Environment Authority

The Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate and the Swedish Work Environment Authority and Their Inspectors... 

Some kind of supervision of labour safety and working conditions has been carried out by public authorities on the local, regional and central levels for almost 200 years. Today such activity is a governmental responsibility (SOU 2002 14). The Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA) was established in 2001 through the amalgamation of the Labour Inspectorate and the National Board of Occupational Safety and Health. SWEA s objective is to reduce the risks of ill-health and accidents in the workplace and to improve the work environment (in terms of social,... 

The Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA) and the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate (SCI) are, thus, two enforcement authorities that work with environmental issues, though in different respects. The Swedish Work Environment Authority focuses on factors that have an impact on the mental, social and physical health and well-being of employees, while the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate focuses on factors that influence toxic levels in nature and thereby both directly and indirectly the health and well-being of human beings as well. While SWEA s activity is dominated by inspections of workplaces in public and private organisations, inspections play only a minor role in the activities of SCI. See Table 18.1 for further differences between the authorities. 

Table 18.1 Differential characteristics between the Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA), and the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate (SCI) (Johansson 2006 87)...

Sweden Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communication Swedish Work Environment Authority Swedish National Institute for Working Life Swedish Criteria Group Work Environment Inspection Department... 

What Swedish limit valu represent The Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljdverket) is empowered under the Work vironment Ordinance Arbe miljdjdrordningen SFS 1977 1166) and Work Environment Act... 

Hohnlund, L. (2001), Statistics on the internal control classification by the labour inspectors during the year 2000, Swedish Work Environment Authority. 

This according to the policies of the Swedish Work Environment Authority (at http //www.av.se/inenglish/inspections/thedifference.aspx last accessed 25 July 2012). 

Chemicals are commonly used in Swedish workplaces and many common substances are highly corrosive acids and bases. The Swedish Work Environment Authority is responsible for developing regulations and guidelines on what first aid equipment that should be provided in areas where these types of chemicals are present. 

The Swedish Work Environment Authority has therefore commissioned this independent literature review and a compilation of experiences from industrial users. 

Arbetsmiljdverket Work Environment Authority AV/SWEA http //www.av.se/ (in Swedish) http //www.av.se/engli8h/about us/ (in Englsih)... 

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