Examine the work environment
A fundamental part of systematic work environment management, and the first step in the ”SAM wheel”, is to continuously examine your work environment. This is done, for example, through safety rounds, employee surveys and dialogue at workplace meetings. Only when risks in the work environment are known can they be properly assessed and addressed.
Survey Methods
Investigating and risk assessing the work environment can be done in several ways. The choice of method depends on what is being investigated, the type of activity and at what level in the organization the survey is conducted. Many workplaces use a combination of different methods. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at:
Workplace meeting
Safety inspection
Performance appraisals
Employee survey
Measurement and analysis
Mapping of accidents and incidents
Workplace meeting (APT)
Forum for dialogue where managers and employees work together on development, planning and follow-up of daily operations.
Overall objectives
Harness the thoughts and ideas of all employees
Increase employee empowerment and accountability
Keep in mind that
Give employees the opportunity to make suggestions on what they want to bring up
Send out agendas and documents in good time
Document decisions in memos and follow up
Plan APT in the annual cycle for systematic work environment management
Not discussing individual issues at workplace meetings.
Safety inspection
Aims to detect, investigate and assess risks in the workplace. During a safety inspection, different parts of the work environment can be examined, such as the physical, the organisational, the social and the digital work environment.
Any risks of ill health and accidents that are discovered must be risk assessed
The HR department, occupational health care and other support resources can be used if necessary
Included in the annual planning of the systematic work environment management
Carried out jointly by the responsible manager, safety representative, student safety representative and other stakeholders
Must be documented and an action plan must be drawn up by the responsible manager.
Performance appraisals
Dialogue between employee and manager about the business and conditions in the workplace. It is also a tool for the manager to check in on the work with each employee.
Examples of points in the performance appraisal
Operational goals and development
The employee’s situation
Skills and development needs
Different aspects of health and work environment
Family situation and needs related to free time.
Personal needs, further questions (for example ask questions about domestic violence.)
Employee survey
Provides a basis that can be used in preventive work environment management.
Implemented at different levels (from municipal and regional level to administrative and workplace level)
Provides an overall picture of how employees experience the business
The results are compiled and fed back to the employees
Any measures are included in an action plan
Measurement and analysis
Part of the survey work is to measure and analyze various factors in the business. If there is a lack of knowledge in your own organisation, you can get help from the occupational health service.
Examples of factors that can be measured and analyzed
Indoor climate
Noise
Lighting
Chemical risks
Sick leave
Occupational injuries and incidents
Overtime
Turnover
Dialogue
What methods and procedures do we have for investigating the work environment?
Do we capture physical, organisational and social risks?
How do we provide feedback on the results of various surveys to employees and to other parts of the organization?
Comment below!