Laws and Regulations

Responsibility

Protection against damage caused by accidents (AFS 1981:14)
There are more than 30,000 cases of accidents each year in Sweden alone. Of these, most Slip or Falls Accidents. A not insignificant number are cases of accidents with serious consequences, such as falls from ladders and falls due openings in floors or cases due to lack of guardrails. In order to prevent accidental falls, this provision had been added.

The Municipality, Landlords and Employers are required to take the necessary actions so these type of accidents will not occur. Floors should not be slippery or uneven. Holes and openings in floors shall be equipped with railings or other protection/warning devices. Se also AFS2000_42 § 9 and AFS 1998 < / p>

EU Direktives

All EU Member Countries indicated, in a pilot study done by the EU, that Slip and Falls Accidents are the main cause of sick leave which is more than three days absence from work (see Work Situation in the European Union - pilot study. 200th European Agency. ISBN 92-950 -0712-3).

Those Responsible

The Municipality, Landlords and Employers are obliged by law to assess the risks, which both workers and visitors, contractors and the public may be exposed to. One of the employer's obligation is to investigate precisely the risk of accidents in the workplace. The European Union has adopted numerous directives (see especially the EC Directiva 89/654) which regulates the prevention of slipping and tripping hazards (eg, workplaces, street signs, personal protective equipment and measures for safety). These directives include requirements for employers to ensure that the floors in the workplace have no dangerous bumps, holes or slopes and that they are stable and slip-free.

Those responsible must prevent slipping and tripping hazards.

Those responsible must prevent slipping and tripping hazards.

The European Work- and Environmental Agency has ranked four methods to prevent slipping and tripping hazards.

Eliminate - Replace - Separate - Prevent