Laws & regulations

When it concerns the work environment at work. Here are a number of useful links to the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s website.

Laws and other regulations about the work environment

The Work Environment Act includes general requirements that apply to the environment at work. The purpose of the Work Environment Act, (AML), is to prevent ill-health and accidents at work and to create a good work environment. For example, it says that the employer bears the ultimate responsibility for the work environment and is to lead the work towards an improved work environment.

https://www.av.se/arbetsmiljoarbete-och-inspektioner/lagar-och-regler-om-arbetsmiljo/

Source: Swedish Work Environment Authority

Light and lighting

The light affects how we perceive and understand our surroundings In a good light environment we feel secure and can perform our tasks in a satisfactory and safe manner. Good light means that there is daylight and lighting so you perceive the room correctly and you can see well, as well as get a good circadian rhythm.

The lighting should be adapted to the work to be performed and must be possible to adjust to meet the needs of each individual. Sometimes you work sitting, sometimes standing, sometimes alone and sometimes in group. This places demands on well thought out lighting.

https://www.av.se/inomhusmiljo/ljus-och-belysning/

Source: Swedish Work Environment Authority

Computer and screen work

On this page you can read about computer and screen work and how it affects the work environment. Today there are many types of display screens and workstations for screen work can appear in many different ways.

The expression “computer work” no longer just means working with the help of computer equipment per se, but the whole chain of opportunities for information and communication on digital paths. Thus the increase in use of the term IT – information technology. At the same time computer is used as a collective term for the modern IT tools in our working life, in school, in the home and in our leisure time.

https://www.av.se/inomhusmiljo/dator–och-bildskarmsarbete/

Source: Swedish Work Environment Authority

Sound and acoustics

All unwanted noise is called noise. This can include sounds that are “only” annoying or sound that is harmful to our hearing. Noise can be a problem at many work places – within industry, agriculture, in the office, restaurants, bars and concert halls, exercise centres, in preschool and school.

Strong noise can damage the hearing temporarily or permanently and result in hearing loss, tinnitus or sound hypersensitivity. Noise can also be tiring, stressful and affect performance. In addition, noise can make it difficult to speak and increases the risk of accidents due to being unable to hear important sounds.

https://www.av.se/inomhusmiljo/ljud-och-akustik/

Source: Swedish Work Environment Authority

Different types of office premises

An important question is which type of office space is appropriate.

There are a number of different solutions, with a variety of advantages and disadvantages:

  • cellular office
  • open plan solution, such as landscape or large room
  • combi-office
  • fixed workstations or not
  • a flexi-office or an activity based office

It is the type of work and the work’s organisation that should determine the type of premises you choose. To choose an open solution just to save space is usually not a good idea. Sometimes a cellular office is converted to an open office to accommodate more workstations in the same area. However, a good office environment in a traditional open solution with fixed workplaces takes up as much space as a cellular office. It is usually difficult to utilise an area efficiently by converting it to an open solution, especially if the premises were initially designed as a cellular office.

https://www.av.se/inomhusmiljo/lokaler-och-arbetsutrymme/lokalernas-storlek/olika-typer-av-kontorslokaler/

Source: Swedish Work Environment Authority