Systematic work environment management at SLU

Regulations

SLU’s organisations are governed by laws, ordinances and other provisions. You can find a selection of them here. Additional regulations will apply for each organisation, so find out which work environment requirements are in force for your workplace. This information can be found in the Work Environment Act, Work Environment Ordinance and provisions on the Swedish Work Environment Authority website. Managers and staff should have access to or knowledge of the relevant acts, ordinances and provisions that are available online.

• Link to the Work Environment Authority website

Risk assessment

Besides the health and safety inspection, risk assesment needs to be conducted at SLU. Risk assesment must be conducted more frequently as a part of everyday evaluations, reviews or surveys.

The law states that specific risk assessments must take place where there are additional risks, such as pregnancy, radiation, at departments where chemicals are used, fire or explosion risks, work with machinery etc.

Risk assessments must be conducted before new trials, laboratory work etc. The Division of Infrastructure can provide support with risk assessments.

In the event of organisational changes, the consequences to the work environment and any potential risks as a result of the change must be documented. These may, for example, include reorganisation, relocation and reduction of employees.

The employer is also responsible for distance workers and will need to adapt the traditional workplace health and safety inspections accordingly.  

• Risk assessment template
• Risk assessment impact assessment

Action plan

After the health and safety inspection, a written action plan can be issued that includes concrete work environment measures for your department/unit. Base the measures on the work environment issues identified and the work environment targets established in your workplace. The action plan also needs to include the risks that were identified in staff surveys and risk assessments that could not be rectified immediately.

Action plans must always be in writing and contain measures that need to be taken, their deadline for implementation and who must ensure they are carried out. The action plan must be an active document that is revised and followed up.

Inspection/Follow-up

The measures included in the action plan must be monitored regularly. Each year, there must be a follow-up of the department/unit’s procedures for systematic work environment management. The follow-up can be included in the local coordination group’s tasks.

Use the checklist for the follow-up and then make the necessary improvements.

• Follow-up checklist

Written documentation

Written documentation is essential for the division of tasks, work environment procedures, action plans, risk assessments and follow-ups. It aids work environment management for both employees and employers. The documentation always needs to be adapted to the organisation and activities and must be clear and easy to understand. 

Internal govering documents 

In the area of work environment there are policies, guidelines and instructions that can be found here. Information about physical work environment can be found here.

Protocol SLU work environment committee

Visit the protocol page (only in Swedish) where you can see the minutes from the SLU work environment committee (SLU-AK).

Harassment and victimization

SLU has a zero tolerance approach to harassment and victimisation. Here is information on how you can act in the event of victimisation.

Heavy consumption and hazardous use

Here you can find information about SLU's guidelines for heavy consumption and hazardous use and what support is available for employees and students.