Construction workers see fewer inspections
Sweden's work environment watchdog has made ten percent fewer inspections on construction sites over the past seven years, despite twice as many work-site employees since 2007, reported national radio station SR.
In just five years, the number of construction site employees have doubled, and the number of construction companies have increased by 75 percent.
Ola Månsson, CEO of the Swedish Construction Federation (Sveriges Byggindustrier), believes today’s safety regulations are sufficient.
“The rules are all there: wear your safety vest, wear your helmet and your harness. It’s the work place attitude which has to be changed,” he told SR.
Even though the regulations are in place, he frequently sees them ignored. Helmets and other safety gear are regularly left unused.
“We want Sweden’s Work Environment Authority to enforce on-site controls, regular controls would be a major help for us,” Månsson said.
As the number of construction companies has sky-rocketed, fewer and fewer work place inspections are being performed by Sweden’s Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket).
The explanation is that the authority has received less money from the government.
“If you decrease our budget, we’re going to have fewer employees,” Mikael Sjöberg, head of the authority, said to SR.
Every month, on average, a construction site worker is killed in a work place accident in Sweden.
Comments
See Also
In just five years, the number of construction site employees have doubled, and the number of construction companies have increased by 75 percent.
Ola Månsson, CEO of the Swedish Construction Federation (Sveriges Byggindustrier), believes today’s safety regulations are sufficient.
“The rules are all there: wear your safety vest, wear your helmet and your harness. It’s the work place attitude which has to be changed,” he told SR.
Even though the regulations are in place, he frequently sees them ignored. Helmets and other safety gear are regularly left unused.
“We want Sweden’s Work Environment Authority to enforce on-site controls, regular controls would be a major help for us,” Månsson said.
As the number of construction companies has sky-rocketed, fewer and fewer work place inspections are being performed by Sweden’s Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket).
The explanation is that the authority has received less money from the government.
“If you decrease our budget, we’re going to have fewer employees,” Mikael Sjöberg, head of the authority, said to SR.
Every month, on average, a construction site worker is killed in a work place accident in Sweden.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.