The physical work environment

As an employee, your physical work environment covers everything from desks and chairs to computers and other technical equipment, but also heating, noise, light, ventilation and the actual premises you work in. Some SULF members also work with chemicals, micro-organisms or medicines, which can pose particular health risks.

The work to create a good work environment includes both the physical and the social and organisational work environment. The employer must work with both of these aspects within the framework of systematic work environment management. In systematic work environment management, the employer works together with health and safety representatives and other employees to examine the working environment, assess the risks of injury, remedy deficiencies and follow up whether the measures implemented have had the intended effect. As an employee, you always have the right to receive information on prevention of health risks in the specific work you do.

The physical work environment is a very broad area. It is covered by a large number of regulations issued by the Swedish Work Environment Authority. If you have questions or comments about your work environment, SULF recommends that you start by contacting your employer and the health and safety representatives at your workplace. The Swedish Work Environment Authority's website also contains a lot of information about working in indoor environments, (opens in a new tab), and working with chemicals (opens in a new tab).