Every year, the Swedish Work Environment Authority makes approximately 10,000 unannounced inspections of workplaces. They are an important part of the authority’s work to reduce the risk of accidents at workplaces.
In total, around 275 inspectors work at the authority, and in 2016 the authority aimed to increase that number to 300 by 2020.
Strict savings requirements
Through the general saving requirement on authorities together with sharp cost increases this year, the Work Environment Agency was forced to save approximately nine million kroner for 2023.
Due to a hiring freeze this summer, the delayed goal of the number of inspectors was not achieved this year.
Record number of accidents
The number of fatal accidents at Swedish workplaces this year amounts to a record 60 people. During Friday, the government announced that they will give the Swedish Work Environment Agency the task of expanding their unannounced workplace inspections.
According to the authority’s Acting Director General Håkan Olsson, the authority is therefore planning to increase the number of unannounced inspections to around 12,000. But since the government is not adding new money, the authority is forced to take resources from other businesses.
– We solve that by reprioritizing – and we make sure to be in the places where the risks are greatest, says Håkan Olsson.
LO: Need more resources
According to Susanna Gideonsson, chairperson of the trade union organization LO, it is not enough for the government to give the authority a new mission if they do not receive more money.
– The Swedish Work Environment Authority is probably trying to do everything they can. But based on previous reductions, the inspectors who remain are busy, she says and adds:
– If you are serious about what you say from the government, you need to add much more resources. And the number of inspectors needs to be many, many more.