Updated 15.18 | Published 15.14
The Social Democrats want to know how the government intends to act after the fatal elevator accident at a construction site in Sundbyberg.
– This issue must be on the agenda, says Teresa Carvalho, labor market policy spokesperson for S.
Five people died when the elevator crashed on Monday. So far this year, 52 people have died at work, according to the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
– Now it is clear that 2023 will be a dark year when it comes to fatal accidents in the workplace. It is also no coincidence that most accidents seem to happen in industries that are very heavily affected by workplace crime, where work environment work is lacking, says Teresa Carvalho and calls the accident “a complete tragedy”.
“Must act”
Carvalho, who is vice-chairman of the labor market committee, wants the labor market minister to come to the committee now.
– The government must act. I want the minister to explain what the government intends to do so that 2024 does not become an even worse record year than 2023 has been.
She points to social democratic proposals for increased resources for the Work Environment Agency, increased access rights for regional safety representatives and increased possibility to levy penalty fees for companies that misbehave.
– This is something that the government has so far said no to, but maybe they are ready to rethink now that we are summing up 2023, says Carvalho.
“A great sadness”
Labor market minister Johan Pehrson (L) says he reacts with “dismay” to the fatal accident.
– It is a great sadness for the people who died and their families. Now it is important that the authorities responsible for investigating this investigate how it could happen, despite the fact that we have perhaps one of the toughest and clearest regulations for the working environment in the world, he says.
Are you ready to take action?
– If it turns out that there are some shortcomings in the legislation on how construction sites of a larger nature are organized, we must of course look into it. But the investigation must show what went wrong, says Pehrson.