UPDATE: 16:30: – It is terrible, incredibly tragic, sad and horrible all at the same time. My thoughts are with the family, relatives, friends and loved ones, says Pierre Pettersson of the trade union Byggnads Västerbotten.
He is frustrated.
– It is somehow symptomatic that everything came in a cluster. Five people have died in Sundbyberg, and then we have four people in the north who have died in work-related accidents within a short period of time. It's a record year.
Without commenting on the specific cases, he believes it's time to allocate more resources to work environment efforts in general within the construction industry.
– There is no doubt; the statistics speak loud and clear.
Companies that focus on and invest in safety work are often at a disadvantage when bidding for contracts, says Pettersson.
– Safety costs money, and everyone knows that. It's absolutely terrible that companies that ignore safety end up winning tenders.
He says Thursday's accident is tragic, but he does not want to speculate on how it happened.
– I'm waiting for the investigation, and I expect a very thorough investigation of what went wrong.
On Monday, Byggnads will hold a minute's silence for the five workers who died in the elevator accident at Sundbyberg. Now more names must be added to the list of those to be honored.
– We will gather at Folkparken in Skellefteå and I hope that as many people as possible will join us, because if ever there was a time for reflection, it's now, says Pettersson:
– It is a week and a year of mourning in workers' Sweden.
Many people want to talk to him today to get his comments and thoughts on the fatal accidents.
– I will get through this day. Hopefully I can be available for support. I think there are many who will need to talk, and we are here at Byggnads in Skellefteå, Västerbotten, and all over Sweden if anyone needs us.
UPDATE: 13:40: Peter Carlsson, CEO of Northvolt, comments on the fatal accidents in a press release:
– Yesterday, a crane was used at our construction site and an accident occurred in which two people were injured, one of whom has now died from his injuries. We are in close contact with NCC (the men's employer) and are assisting them and their employees with the crisis management and investigation of the incident.
At the same time, we have received news that our colleague who was injured in a production accident in November has died in hospital. He was an ambitious, positive and highly valued colleague, and it is incredibly painful to lose him.
The investigation into the accident has progressed in conjunction with the relevant authorities.
– Measures have been taken, and support has been given to the family and colleagues. We now gather in mourning. The situation is devastating, and we are now working hour by hour to help each other through it.
UPDATE: 10:20: The person who died in the crane accident at Northvolt is a man in his 60s. He lived in Skellefteå municipality.
The other person injured in the accident is a man in his 20s. He is currently being treated at Norrland University Hospital. His injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.
UPDATE: 10:10: Åse Schoultz is an environmental prosecutor at REMA, the National Unit for Environmental and Occupational Crime, and is leading the investigation into the Northvolt accident.
The case is classified as an occupational health and safety crime, including causing the death of another person.
All relatives have been informed of the death, she says.
The site of the accident is cordoned off. During the day, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and police technicians will go to Northvolt to inspect the site.
– They will look at the site and the equipment to find out what happened and what caused the accident, says Schoultz, adding:
Initially, the investigators will not confiscate any of the machinery on site. The crane and boom will be examined within the perimeter of the industrial park.
Will you get more resources for the investigation now that a person has died?
– That is up to the police. I ask for investigative measures, but I cannot control the allocation of resources by the police. But my impression is that when a fatal accident occurs, it gets a completely different priority.
Schoultz has been a prosecutor for 25 years, and for the last 13 years she has been an environmental prosecutor.
– My impression is that industrial accidents have increased unbelievably.
– Now, with the accident in Stockholm, it has come more into focus, but my feeling is that accidents have increased steadily over the last few years.
UPDATE: 09:40
The industrial accident occurred during a lifting operation, according to Daniel Andersson, fire chief at the emergency service.
– A crane block was being used, and then an accident happened, and two people were injured, he says.
From how high was the fall?
– I wasn't told how high it fell from. But the object that fell caused pinch point and crushing injuries.
Sanna Bäckström, communications director at Northvolt, also has no idea what the height of the fall was.
– We don't know at the moment, but what we do know is that it fell and injured these two people.
Initial reports from her indicated that one person was seriously injured. However, according to Andreas Åström, the medical commander at the scene, both people were seriously injured, and it's now been confirmed that one of the men has died.
– They are two adult males, and they were both taken to Skellefteå Hospital, and one of them was later taken to Umeå by road ambulance, he says.
According to Andreas Åström, it's some kind of heavy lifting equipment, such as a crane.
– It is a heavier industrial object that has fallen from a height onto a vehicle. It came loose or tipped over onto these people. It hit them in the fall.
The two people are not directly employed by Northvolt, but by a construction company working on the site, according to Bäckström.
Do you know anything about how this accident could have happened?
– It's too early to say, but we are currently gathering information and will, of course, continue to investigate.
When an accident occurs, Northvolt immediately activates its crisis support and makes sure that all employees and those present at the accident site get the support they need, she continues.
– There were a number of people who were there and saw it, she says.
Northvolt is now investigating why the accident happened and is following the necessary procedures and working with the relevant authorities, she continues.
This is the second accident in a short time at Northvolt - how do you work with safety?
– We of course have a very systematic approach to the working environment, which we will continue to work with. And it underlines the importance of continuing to have a strong focus and priority on it.
A preliminary investigation has been started and the incident now has a criminal classification, says Alexander Johansson, on-call preliminary investigation leader at the police.
- I cannot say more than that at the moment. The investigation is led by prosecutors at the national unit for environmental and work environment cases, says Johansson.
