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Work environment at SLU
Last changed: 22 May 2025
Through active health and safety work, SLU wants to create a stimulating work environment for all employees and students. A good work environment is a common concern for management, employees and students, and everyone has a responsibility to participate.
Organisation and responsibility
The vice-chancellor, as head of a public authority, has overall responsibility for the work environment at SLU. At each department/division, the head of department or equivalent is responsible for the work environment. Each employee is expected to take an active part in the work environment processes and alert their superior of any shortcomings. The safety representatives represent the employees, and their task is to monitor work environment issues.
Division of Human Resources and the Division of Infrastructure jointly support our work environment processes. The Division of Human Resources supports departments and units in their work environment efforts. They offer support on issues relating to the psychosocial environment as well as on how to organize and implement work environment processes. They also offer training on work environment issues for managers and safety representatives.
The Division of Infrastructure offer support on issues related to the physical work environment.
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.
Risk assesment
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.
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.
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.