Accidents and safe workplaces

Why do work accidents occur and why do work-related ill health occur – despite the fact that there is a well-developed work environment and safety work? The answer to this question can be found, among other things, in the area known as safety culture. IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute helps you in the work of preventing accidents and understanding what creates safe workplaces.

Investing in the work environment and creating a good safety culture often helps to increase the competitiveness of the business, regardless of the industry.

Safety culture has many definitions and we use the concept to describe:

• The organisation's ability to create and maintain a safe work environment and safe working methods
• A common approach for everyone in the organisation to act in relation to risks and safety issues

A common expression is that "culture is in the walls", which makes it difficult to work with and influence. If we instead view the safety culture as something that is embedded in our behaviors - i.e. what we say and do - then we can work with the culture: we can reinforce what works well and contributes to safety, and work to change what leads to risks and risk-taking at work.

Would you like help reviewing your routines and working methods to contribute to a good safety culture?

Hire IVL for:

• Workshops
• Lectures
• Mapping the status of the business – strengths and areas for improvement
• Developing strategies, processes and working methods