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Health and Safety Representation andSmall Firms
Reflections from Sweden Kaj Frick Luleå and
Mälardalen Universities, Sweden
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Regional Safety Representatives (RSR)

• By law Grown from 1974. Now also white collar
  RSRs
• Political goal Improve OHS-dialogue in small
  workplaces
• Unions may appoint RSR where no joint OHS
  committee
• 2100 RSR in 2005 ( 280 full-time)
• 4/5 of 290 000 workplaces, with 900 000
  employees
• RSR try to appoint train local reps Both
  RSR local rep
• Paid half by unions, half by taxes (other reps
  by employers

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RSRs a success story

• Strict evaluation hard, and not even attempted
  BUT
• Most workplaces lack local reps Covered by
  RSRs
• 65 000 visits 510 x Lab. Insp. (or OHS
  services)
• Few conflicts Varies with I.R. in the industry
• Many more employers ask for help than complain
• RSR train solve problems, e.g. unsafe
  containers
• Employer representatives find most quite useful

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Why it works Good IR and OHS traditions

• Strong labour and tradition of corporatist
  co-operation.
• Still 80 in unions, members also in most small
  firms
• Managers-employers used to co-operate. And they
  like it
• Authoritarian management not needed, or good,
  for profits
• Mainly positive IR also in small firms
  Interference OK
• Experienced-moderate RSRs Senior reps or Union
  officers
• OHS strong political value workers rights
  public health

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Problems Role, Funding Structure

• Harder to promote OHSM than to solve OHS
  problems
• No mechanisms/fora to resolve conflicts
• Small firms much fewer local/regional reps
  than large
• Underfunded Only one visit in 3 years
• Government may cut their half but unions cant
  pay it all
• Private services up Less OHS resources Size,
  reps, competence, OHS services, unionised,
  inspections.
• Destructure Globalize Supply chain Foreign
  raids