Safety representatives may order the suspension of work

As a safety representative, you may order the suspension of work that is in progress if the work poses a threat to someone’s life or health. The threat must be both serious and immediate. It does not matter whether the person at risk is an employee or a hired worker – you can suspend work regardless.

This is referred to as the ‘suspension of work by a safety representative’ (skyddsombudsstopp) and is regulated in Chapter 6 Article 7 of the Swedish Work Environment Act.

The Work Environment Act at the Government of Sweden's website, in English, opens in a new window

Student safety representatives may not order the suspension of work.

Procedure for ordering the suspension of work by a safety representative

1. Inform the employer that you have suspended work because you believe there is an immediate and serious danger to the lives or health of employees. State that you are entitled to suspend the work under Chapter 6 Article 7 of the Swedish Work Environment Act.
   
   You can order the suspension either verbally or in writing. If this is done verbally, you must also document in writing what you have reported and why. Save this documentation.
   
   
2. Your employer must now decide what the suspension will lead to:

The employer accepts the suspension and agrees with you that there is an immediate and serious danger

1. The employer remedies the problems, preferably in cooperation with you and other people at the workplace. You should attempt to find a solution through a dialogue, so that the work can be resumed in a safe manner.
   
   
2. The work may be resumed when you agree that the risks have been eliminated and the work is safe.
   
   It is not necessary to contact us.

The employer does not agree that there is an immediate and serious danger to the lives or health of employees

1. The employer will call us.
   
   
2. We will decide whether or not the suspension should be lifted. We normally carry out an inspection of the workplace on the same or following day. We sometimes reach a decision concerning the case over the telephone.
   
   
3. We will decide on one of the following measures:
   • Prohibition: we will force the employer to stop doing something that is not permitted
   • No prohibition of work: the employer may resume the work immediately.
     
     
4. You can appeal against our decision – as can the employer. Follow the instructions in the decision you receive from us. You must appeal to the administrative court within three weeks from the date on which you receive our decision. Otherwise, the administrative court will not consider your appeal.
   
   You are not entitled to appeal if a principal safety representative has been appointed. The principal safety representative will appeal in such cases.

Request for action on working conditions and work hours

Examples of 6:6 a requests to the employer

Do you have any questions? Contact our helpline on telephone +46 0107309000.