The safety representative (skyddsombud) is the employees' representative in work environment matters. The role is set out in chapter 6 of the Work Environment Act. As a manager you work with safety representatives in everyday life.
When must there be a safety representative?
At a workplace where at least five employees are regularly employed, a safety representative must be appointed from among the employees (chapter 6, section 2). Safety representatives must also be appointed at smaller workplaces if working conditions require it. It is the employees' side that appoints, not the employer.
- Safety representatives are appointed by a local employee organisation that is, or usually is, bound by a collective agreement with the employer. If there is no such organisation, they are appointed by the employees.
- If there are several safety representatives, one must be a chief safety representative.
- A regional safety representative can be appointed by a union branch if there is no safety committee.
What does the safety representative do?
The safety representative represents the employees, works for a satisfactory work environment and watches over protection against ill health and accidents (chapter 6, section 4). The representative must:
- take part when new or changed premises, work processes, working methods and work organisation are planned
- take part when action plans are drawn up
- be given information about changes of importance for the work environment
Employers and employees share responsibility for the safety representative receiving the training that is needed. The safety representative is entitled to see the documents and information that are needed (section 6) and to the time off that the assignment requires (section 5).
Requesting action
If the safety representative considers that something must be put right, they can request action from you (chapter 6, section 6 a). On request you must immediately confirm in writing that you have received it, and give an answer without delay. If you do not, or if the matter is not dealt with within a reasonable time, the safety representative can turn to the Work Environment Authority. The Authority then considers whether an order or a prohibition is to be issued.
Stopping dangerous work
If a job involves immediate and serious danger to life or health and you do not put it right at once, the safety representative can decide that the work is to be stopped pending the Work Environment Authority's decision (chapter 6, section 7). The safety representative is free from liability for damage that results from this.
Safety committee
At a workplace with at least fifty employees there must be a safety committee with representatives of the employer and the employees (chapter 6, section 8). It must also be set up at smaller workplaces if the employees request it. The committee takes part in planning work environment management and deals with, among other things, occupational health services, action plans, changes in the business, training and rehabilitation.
Protection for the safety representative
Safety representatives may not be obstructed in carrying out their duties and may not be given worse working conditions or terms of employment because of the assignment (chapter 6, section 10). If you break this rule you can be liable to pay compensation for the damage.
What you still have to do yourself
You cannot appoint safety representatives for the staff. But you must give them time, information and room, and answer their requests on time.