Serious incidents in relation to infectious risk

According to the Work Environment Act, Chapter 3 Section 3a, an employer must promptly notify the Swedish Work Environment Authority of a work-related death or serious personal injury.

An employer must also promptly notify the Swedish Work Environment Authority in case of work-related injuries have affected several workers at the same time and in case of an incident that has posed a serious threat to life and health.

Some infectious diseases are reportable under the Law on Infectious Diseases (2004:168) and the Infectious Disease Regulation (2004:255). Reportable diseases divide into diseases that are a public health threat, a threat to society, and diseases that are reportable in addition to representing a public health threat.

Diseases that are a public health threat and that can cause infection in workers in connection with work must be reported promptly as a serious incident to the Swedish Work Environment Authority. Below are some examples of such diseases

  • Campylobacter
  • Methicillin resistant yellow staphylococci (MRSA)
  • Hepatitis A-E
  • Tuberculosis
  • Viral hemorrhagic fevers (excluding Dengue and Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS))
  • HIV

Serious incidents in relation to infectious risks

According to the Work Environment Act, serious infection risk incidents must be reported promptly, regardless of whether the worker becomes ill as a result of the incident.

The same applies to work-related injuries sustained by several workers at the same time and incidents involving serious threat to life or health,

Further information is available in the Work Environment Act, Chapter 3, Section 3a.

External links

See overview of the different categories of these diseases, the Public Health Agency's website, opens in a new window (SWE)

Law on Infectious Diseases (2004:168), the website of the Riksdag, opens in a new window (SWE)

Last updated 2020-07-01