Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Sweden (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes the Government’s reports received on 1 November 2007 and 2 August 2009. It also notes with interest the three brochures annexed to the 2007 report on: safety instructions for clearing forests damaged by storms (“Minimum requirements for salvage harvesting in wind-thrown forests”); the use of chemical substances on unsalvaged forest and existing stands; and the use of chemical substances for the planting and raising of new trees, all published by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (WEA).

Articles 6, paragraph 1(b), 5, paragraph 1(a), and 12 of the Convention. Inter-institutional cooperation for occupational safety and health in agriculture, including for independent farmers. The Committee notes with satisfaction the various measures taken by the WEA, in constant coordination with other national authorities and the social partners to prevent work injuries and accidents. According to the Government, information is distributed through brochures (such as the brochure “ADI 629-Working safely with animals”), a specific site on agriculture on the WEA’s web page (http://www.av.se/teman/jordochskog/), as well as through media activities and the participation of the WEA in trade union meetings. The WEA also provides individual advice on matters such as simple systems of risk assessment which can easily be applied by individual farmers, for example in enterprises with few or no employees, as well as supplying contact information to the respective enterprises on social partners with expertise on specific issues. In addition, the Government refers to the launching of a joint supervisory initiative in 2009 aimed at changing farmers’ attitudes to hazards in their work environment. The initiative will continue for three years and will focus on systematic work environment management, machinery, the hazards of firewood production, personal protective equipment and work with animals. It will include undertakings both with and without employees, as most fatal accidents occur in undertakings that do not have employees.

Articles 6, paragraph 1(a) and (b), and 9, paragraph 3. Specific preventive measures taken after the storms “Gudrun” (2005) and “Per” (2007), including special training for labour inspectors. The Committee notes with interest the short- and long-term measures carried out by the WEA in reaction to the consequences of the above storms. In the short term, the districts worst affected by the storm were allowed to coordinate functions in the area of supervision, including calling in work environment inspectors from all over Sweden to join the work. In addition, a specialist conference for 24 inspectors was organized to cope with the special situation in order to improve their skills for the surveillance of the areas hit by the storm. With regard to long-term measures, the WEA supplied information through the above brochures on special work risks following the storm, appropriate personal protective equipment and suitable working methods to cope with risks arising in chainsaw work for emergency salvage harvesting, and the spreading of strong chemical pesticides to prevent insect attacks in unsalvaged forests and existing stands, as well as pesticides to facilitate planting in cleared areas. In addition, labour suppliers, plant nurseries and major forestry enterprises have been targeted with supervisory measures.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide details of the other activities to which it refers in its report, namely: (1) media activities; (2) the system of risk assessment; and (3) the joint supervisory initiative in 2009 aimed at changing farmers’ attitudes to hazards in their work environment.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.