In October, Northvolt employees reported experiencing ocular concerns during an incident. The individual pictured was not associated with that specific event.
Two fatal accidents struck Northvolt in late 2023. A November explosion claimed a young worker's life. The following month falling machinery killed a 57-year-old construction worker, and seriously injured a man in his mid-20s, who required an arm amputation.
Over the past few months, Norran has been in contact with about 20 individuals who have expressed concerns about the working environment at the Northvolt site. Those interviewed work in the same building in which the November explosion occurred. They come from various departments working in the production and cleaning sections and have chosen to share their experiences.
They testify to a fear of chemicals, inadequate use of protective equipment, and poor communication. Together, this creates a concerning picture of the working environment.
– I'm afraid to go to work, says one cleaner to Norran.
– Poor communication is fueling frustration among employees. They don't feel they're getting the information they need, which creates concern about the chemicals used on site, says Mikael Stenmark, chief safety officer.
And there have been other incidents of workers being injured. Norran has previously received information about an incident involving chemicals that caused eye problems for workers in October 2023.
Via the chief safety officer, Stenmark, we have confirmed that this occurred. According to Stenmark, nine people in maintenance and the control room experienced problems on that occasion.
–The affected area was cleaned using standard protocols and familiar cleaning agents. However, for three days afterward, multiple staff members reported suffering from constricted pupils (a condition also known as miosis - Norran English editor) which made it difficult to work with computer monitors. Light sensitivity was also prevalent. We identified a chemical reaction, but haven't pinpointed the exact cause, explains Stenmark.
– To prevent similar incidents, next time immediate testing will be essential to determine which substances interacted and caused this reaction.
Northvolt confirms the investigated incident took place but did not report it to the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket).
Why didn´t you report it?
"Our investigation found no deviation from cleaning procedures," writes Matti Kataja, Northvolt's Nordic communications lead, in an email to Norran.
"The team concluded the incident didn't warrant a report. We urged everyone involved to see a doctor, and they were all cleared to return to work. The issue hasn't recurred."
Neither Kataja nor other Northvolt representatives made themselves available for interviews, limiting opportunities for further clarification.
According to Arbetsmiljöverket, such incidents should be reported. Even if there are no injuries, any release of smoke, gas, or chemicals must be reported.
Similarly, reports are required if a chemical release causes minor skin injuries or illness symptoms in multiple employees.
A search of the Arbetsmiljöverket's registry shows that since 2022, Northvolt in Västerbotten has reported six accidents and seven incidents, five of them chemical-related. These reports don't include incidents from subcontractors who also work on-site.
Northvolt did report a couple of chemical-related accidents to Arbetsmiljöverket this spring. In one instance, an operator required emergency room treatment after getting lithium on their wrists. Another incident involved the release of a chemical cloud. An operator inhaled the dust and received medical attention, being told he could develop cold-like symptoms.
Ferenc Sari, operations manager at the emergency department in Skellefteå, reports that they receive patients from Northvolt once a week or every other week.
Ferenc Sari, head of operations at Skellefteå's emergency department, confirms a rise in patients with chemical exposure incidents since Northvolt's establishment.
– This is unsurprising for large-scale chemical production, and it’s not unique to Northvolt, says Sari. He explains that other growing businesses using chemicals also experience accidents.
– We see patients from Northvolt roughly once or twice a week, sometimes even a few at once.
Sari highlights common chemical exposure symptoms:
– Exposure can irritate airways, causing asthma-like symptoms with coughing. In severe cases, medication and inhalation therapy might be needed. Chemical injuries to the skin and eyes are also common.
He explains that constricted pupils can be a neurological response to certain chemicals, but it is not inherently dangerous.
– It can be treated with an antidote, and it often resolves itself naturally as the chemical leaves the body.
The unexplained deaths of two young men working with production and cleaning on-site earlier this year have heightened concerns.
Autopsies were unable to determine the cause of death for these men, who died in their sleep after finishing their shifts. That is very unusual for people under the age of 40. While police closed the cases due to no suspicion of foul play and no current link to their workplace, the unexplained nature and the prior good health of the deceased, as indicated by autopsy reports, continues to worry their colleagues.
"It's cumbersome and bureaucratic, but a work environment program is being built up at Northvolt," says Mikael Stenmark, chief safety representative.
Rumors of employee deaths have circulated, prompting the union to investigate. They've discovered several cases where deaths were due to illnesses unrelated to work, and some multiple rumors were even about the same person.
When Norran inquired about the two unexplained deaths, Stenmark surprisingly admitted he was only aware of one of them.
– We hadn't identified one of the young men who died unexpectedly, but we were still investigating, he explained.
Stenmark acknowledges the union's significant effort in raising occupational health and safety awareness at Northvolt. He highlights the challenges posed by the company's large size (3,000 employees, plus contractors), multiple management levels, and diverse workforce nationalities.
Stenmark attributes the lack of familiarity with Swedish workplace regulations and employer responsibilities to the diverse backgrounds of some employees, suggesting they may be accustomed to different work practices.
– It's incredibly frustrating. There's a lack of understanding among managers regarding their critical role in workplace accident prevention and communication. We've had to push hard, but there has been some improvement.
Stenmark adds that many employees are unaccustomed to speaking up for themselves with their employer, as is common in Swedish work culture.
– They tend to follow instructions without question.
He concludes by pointing out that the union's involvement in risk assessments only began in the past year. A reporting system now exists for incidents and risk observations.
– But there are probably unreported cases due to how the organization is structured. It's so large and complex, says Stenmark.
Matti Kataja, responsible for communication and community relations in the Nordics at Northvolt, only responded to questions via email.
Norran inquired about the specific chemicals employees are exposed to at Northvolt and their control over the mixing process and potential effects, but no clear answer was provided. Matti Kataja, from Northvolt communications, emphasized Sweden's and the EU's strict chemical handling regulations and permitting processes.
Should employees be worried about the work environment?
"Absolutely not," says Kataja.
"Employee health and safety are our top priority. We continuously strive for improvements, working closely with employees, safety representatives, and unions."
What do you think of the information on how many Northvolt employees have had to go to accident and emergency? Is it reasonable that on-site incidents happen so often?
"Swedish work environment legislation mandates strict protocols for health checks, even for those who weren't directly involved in an incident but may have had their health potentially compromised. With a workforce of up to 5,000, such checks are necessary in certain situations. Fortunately, in most cases, they confirm the employee's good health and allow for a safe return to work," wrote Kataja.
Chemical exposure that happens to several individuals, even if they are not injured, is an example of an incident that should be reported to Arbetsmiljöverket.
Kataja emphasizes that they do not have data indicating that incidents occur more frequently at their site than at other large workplaces. Reports are made to Arbetsmiljöverket when the responsible teams deem that the criteria are met.
"However, we naturally investigate more incidents as part of our continuous work environment efforts."
He explains that they have an internal system for reporting, investigating, and following up on various events. All employees have access to this system on their mobile devices and computers.
"It works well and is an important tool in our active systematic work environment efforts," says Kataja.
Norran sources point out deficiencies in information dissemination regarding work environment and safety, attributed in part to the diverse nationalities among the workforce.
We're interested in understanding the challenges Northvolt faces in communicating safety and work environment information to employees. Additionally, we ask Kataja how Northvolt ensures all employees receive accurate information on using safety equipment and understanding potential risks. Kataja responds:
"To be employed by us, we require proficiency in English. We use English as the working language to communicate effectively and to educate our employees."
He writes that they are committed to ensuring they have procedures and a robust approach to work environment welfare that ensures the operation is safe and secure.
"Our operations comply with the requirements placed on them."
He also claims that they continuously train all employees in work environment issues. Managers receive training before being delegated responsibilities in work environment matters.
Why has it only been in the last year that the union has been involved in risk assessments?
"When we were a smaller workforce, for example, we lacked local safety representatives. As trade unions gain more elected representatives, we can collaborate on more issues," writes Kataja.
Regarding the rumors of deaths, what measures are being taken to communicate effectively with employees and quell these rumors?
"It is obviously serious if people do not trust that the police would thoroughly investigate a death if there were suspicions of a connection to the workplace, or if they believe that our workplace is not safe to work at," says Kataja.
He explains that they communicate internally about the deaths and can organize memorial services.
"But in cases where the cause of death is not immediately clear and not linked to work, the employer has no right to be informed or to spread information about the cause of death, out of respect for the individual's privacy. Unfortunately, there is always a risk of false rumors."
What measures are in place to ensure unfiltered information flows through the management chain?
"Safety representatives are important in daily systematic work environment work and in communication about the workplace. We have regular meetings with our trade unions."
What steps do you take when you see other companies on-site neglecting work environment best practices?
"While we have a responsibility to coordinate safety efforts within our workplace, the ultimate responsibility for each company's work environment lies with the individual companies themselves. We conduct regular inspections, and if we identify any safety concerns, we naturally initiate a dialogue with the company involved."
Have you considered ways to improve how information is communicated? There may be areas where the current approach could be strengthened.
"We can always improve internal communication. We work on this continuously."
Norran sent questions to Northvolt on the morning of May 28. After three days of waiting, Northvolt finally provided answers to our inquiries after lunch on Friday. Later that evening, we learned that Northvolt had issued a memo to its employees addressing the very safety and work environment concerns we had raised.
Northvolt emphasized shared responsibility in the memo, stating that everyone has a role in ensuring the safe handling of chemicals.
"Rest assured – Northvolt [...] will continue to prioritize safety in all aspects of the work environment. [---] If you follow the work instructions, risk assessments, and use protective equipment correctly, you can feel confident that the risks have been mitigated."
Know any more?
Contact Norran: granskning@norran.se