Documentation and serious incidents in case of exposure to the new coronavirus

Activities where the tasks involve an increased risk of exposure to the new coronavirus.

The risk of being exposed to the new coronavirus in activities may differ for different workers. For some workers, the risk is high. For others, the risk is low. The risk depends entirely on the employee’s tasks.

Where is there a direct risk of exposure to the new coronavirus?

Examples of activities are:

• Health care and nursing, where staff care for patients/users who are, or are suspected of being, infected with the new coronavirus.
• Transport of patients/users who are, or are suspected of being, infected with the new coronavirus.
• Laboratory and research activities dealing with the coronavirus.

However, the risk varies between different tasks. Employers must assess the risk to which their workers are exposed. Based on the risk assessment, the employer should take measures to eliminate or at least minimize the risk.

If any of my workers have fallen ill as a result of the new coronavirus – how do I know that the infection occurred at work?

If the worker who has fallen ill has nursed/cared for/stayed in the same room/space as a patient/user infected with the new coronavirus, you should assume they have been infected at work. This applies regardless of whether or not protective equipment has been used.

Serious incident

In this case, a serious incident means that the worker has been exposed to the coronavirus, for example, because the correct protective equipment has not been used. 

What should I, as an employer, do if one of my workers has been exposed, due to a serious incident, to the new coronavirus as a result of their duties?

1. You must take steps to avoid that more workers are at risk of being exposed to the new coronavirus.
2. You must confirm by testing that the patient/user is infected with the new coronavirus. If the patient/user is infected with the new coronavirus, you must document:
• The worker or workers who were exposed.
• The type of work that was carried out.
• That the infectious agent is the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2)
• The tasks performed when the worker was exposed.

You must keep this information for at least 10 years.

If you fail to document this, you will be liable to pay a penalty.

More information is available in Section 11 of the regulations on infectious risks (AFS 2018:4).

Do I have to report this to anyone?

You must visit the website anmalarbetsskada.se. Click on the button serious incident and fill in the form that appears.

Report serious incident, opens in a new window, SWE

Infection leading to disease

What should I do if any of my workers have fallen ill as a result of the new coronavirus and the infection occurred at work?

1. You must determine whether the infection occurred at work. Has it been confirmed by testing that the patient/user is infected with the new coronavirus?
2. You must take steps to prevent that more workers are exposed to or infected with the new coronavirus.

1. If it has been confirmed by testing that the patient/user is infected with the new coronavirus, you must document:
• Who is infected.
• The type of work that was carried out.
• That the infectious agent is the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2)
• The tasks performed when the worker was infected.

You must keep this information for at least 10 years.

If you fail to document this, you will be liable to pay a penalty.

More information is available in Section 11 of the regulations on infectious risks (AFS 2018:4)

Do I have to report this to anyone?

You must visit the website anmalarbetsskada.se. Click on the button serious incident and fill in the form that appears.

Report occupational disease, opens in a new window, SWE

Infection leading to death

What should I do if one of my workers has died as a result of the new coronavirus and the infection occurred at work?

1. You must determine whether the infection occurred at work. Has it been confirmed by testing that the patient/user is infected with the new coronavirus?
2. You must take steps to prevent that more workers are exposed to or infected with the new coronavirus.
3. If it has been confirmed by testing that the patient/user is infected with the new coronavirus, you must document:
• a) Who is infected.
• b) The type of work that was carried out.
• c) That the infectious agent is the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2)
• d) The tasks performed when the worker was infected.

You must keep this information for at least 10 years.

If you fail to document this, you will be liable to pay a penalty.

More information is available in Section 11 of the regulations on infectious risks (AFS 2018:4)

Do I have to report this to anyone?

You must visit the website anmalarbetsskada.se. Click on the button death due to occupational disease and fill in the form that appears.

Report death due to occupational disease, external website, opens in new window, SWE