The Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverke) was on-site at Northvolt on Friday.
Last week was marked by several fatal work accidents. Two people lost their lives in accidents at the Northvolt site within a short period of time. In addition, five people died in an elevator accident at a construction site in Sundbyberg on Monday.
Last week it was also announced that a young man was killed in connection when an excavator broke through the ice outside Örnsköldsvik on Friday.
On Friday, the minister for the labor market and integration, Johan Pehrson (L), held a press conference together with the deputy minister for gender equality and labour market, Paulina Brandberg (L).
– It's been an incredibly dark week, and there are really no words. I'm thinking a lot about all the people who have been affected and all the relatives and colleagues who have been affected, says Paulina Brandberg (L) to Norran.
Is it necessary for such a dark week to prompt action?
– We have already taken several measures. In September, we set up a task force to look at how we can increase the number of safety representatives in workplaces where they are lacking. We had already expanded the measures, but when something like this happens, it reminds us how important this work is. We need to step up and look at it from a broad perspective.
One of the announcements made at the press conference was that the Swedish Work Environment Authority will be tasked with carrying out more unannounced inspections at workplaces in order to prevent more fatal accidents.
– The government believes that unannounced inspections give a better picture of the safety situation in the workplace. If we increase them, employers may pay more attention to safety, says Brandberg.
Minister of labor market and integration, Johan Pehrson, and deputy minister for gender equality and labor market, Paulina Brandberg, during Friday's press conference on fatal accidents in Swedish workplaces.
Could the accidents at Northvolt have been avoided if there had been more inspections?
– I don't want to speculate about specific cases. We don't have enough information.
According to Brandberg, it's important to work from two angles: to make it easier for the vast majority of employers to do things correctly, and at the same time to make it clear how to conduct proper occupational safety work.
– We also have employers who deliberately deviate from safety standards, have inadequate safety measures, and compete for procurements by reducing safety measures. We must actively work to eliminate such practices.
On Friday, it was announced that the 25-year-old man who was injured in the explosion on November 4 at Northvolt has passed away. On the same day, it was announced that a man in his sixties had died in Thursday's crane accident.
Northvolt is growing and expanding fast. How could this affect safety?
– Of course there are risks when you are under time pressure and have large projects that need to be completed quickly. But I don't want to single out individual companies - that's not my role as a minister, and I don't have specific information about the individual accidents.
–The current economic downturn can also contribute to risks if companies have to make savings.
– It should also never happen that someone at work does not get enough information about safety rules because of language problems.
– We have quite a few workplaces in Sweden with foreign workers, and it's important how we ensure that those who don't speak Swedish know which safety regulations they need to follow. They may be unfamiliar with our security practices. We have to be extra vigilant in this regard.
Brandberg has visited the accident site in Sundbyberg, where five people died in an elevator accident. There are currently no plans to visit Skellefteå and Northvolt.
– We will see in the future, she says.
During the press conference you said that you were following the investigations into this week's fatal accidents - how are you following the investigations in Northvolt?
– I have been in contact with several parties involved and will also be talking to the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (Statens haverikommission) and the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket).
Throughout the week, she has been in constant contact to gather information about what actually happened, with the aim of taking measures to prevent it from happening again, she continues.
– I have not been in contact with Northvolt or any specific company. It's an intensive investigation. The most important thing for me is to find the cause and then take action, she says.