Photo: Kommunikationsenheten
From February 2023, you will use a digital reporting account to file reports on occupational injuries, near misses and risk observations.
How to report occupational injuries, near misses and risk observations
- what has happened and file a report via the link below. The report will be sent to your manager and the work environment representative.
File a report
- If you are unsure of what to report or how, ask your manager or the work environment representative. Read more under What to report.
- If you are injuried, it is advisable to see a medical doctor, so they can provide you with a medical certificate. Save all certificates and receipts linked to your injury in order to claim compensation.
Why you should report
It is important that you report occupational injuries, near misses and risk observations in order for Umeå University to prevent accidents and work-related illnesses.
Something that you might perceive as an isolated incident could in fact be part of a series of events that suggest a pattern. Occurrences that you and your colleagues report provide your workplace with the possibility to notice patterns and follow up on statistics.
Report as soon as possible
You should report the occurrence as soon as possible. Partly because you might remember the circumstances better and partly so your manager can then take action straight away.
What to report
Report all occupational injuries, near misses and risk observations. Remember to also report events that have taken place during working hours when working from home, abroad or in other places.
Work-related illness
A work-related illness is an illness that arises or worsens because of your work or work conditions. It can be due to harmful impact of your work over an extended period of time. Examples are:
- physical illness (cancer, asthma, allergies) because of your work with harmful substances
- physical ailments because of heavy or repetitive work, vibrations or noise
- mental health issues due to stress.
Occupational accident
An occupational accident is an unwanted incident that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly that leads to injury or illness. This could for example be:
- a sprained or broken foot because of a fall
- back pain after carrying a heavy item
- exposure to an infectious agent in a laboratory environment
- a burn injury
- being in a state of shock due to a threatening situation.
Commuting accident
A commuting accident is an unwanted event on your way to or from your workplace that leads to injury or illness. This could for example be a traffic accident on your way to work or a fall outside your home or workplace.
Near misses and serious near misses
A near miss is an unwanted event that could have led to an illness or an accident. Something was about to happen. A serious near miss is an unwanted event that could have caused serious health issues or a grave accident. Events of an organisational or social nature can be hard to determine if they are near misses. If you are unsure, talk to your manger or work environment representative.
A near miss could for example be:
- slipping without falling
- almost walking into the corner of a bookshelf
- • spilling a hazardous chemical on your laboratory coat, but not on your skin.
A serious near miss could for example be:
- a heavy shelf collapses right next to you, without injuring you
- an explosion in a laboratory, whereby no one is injured
- a threat of violence if the situation entailed a genuine risk to the victim's life or health or if the situation was perceived as seriously meant (threatening someone at knifepoint, death threats).
Risk observation
A risk observation is a risk or defect that could cause a near miss or an occupational injury. Examples are:
- loose cords in a corridor
- faulty lighting
- slippery stairs
- a high workload over a long period of time.
What happens next
- When you have filed your report, IA will notify both your manager and the work environment representative. The latter can log in to the system and check how the investigation of your case is progressing.
- Your manager can assign the case to someone else, for example another manager or HR.
- Your manager, or the assigned person, is responsible for investigating what happened, taking actions to remedy the issue and reporting it to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), AFA Försäkring (PSA) and in certain cases, the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket).
- Your manager must always report deaths, serious personal injuries, injuries in connection with work, which have affected several employees at the same time and serious near misses to the Swedish Work Environment Authority without delay.
- You will be cooperating on your case with your manager/the assigned person and the work environment representative.
- After your report has been sent you can apply for compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, AFA Försäkring and in some cases the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet).
Apply for compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan)
If you are involved in an occupational or commuting accident or if you are suffering from a work-related illness, your manager is obligated to report this to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency then determines if the injury counts as an occupational injury. The report is made in the IA system and is automatically transferred to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
If you wish to claim compensation for an injury, you apply for it yourself by contacting the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
Read more and apply for compensation
Apply for compensation from AFA Försäkring
All employees of Umeå University are covered by AFA Försäkring's Personal Injury Agreement for public servants.
You and your manager can submit a report together via the IA system. The reported information in IA is then automatically transferred to AFA. You do not need to file a separate report to claim compensation from AFA. They might contact you to ask for more information. You can also claim compensation from AFA Försäkring outside of the IA system.
Read more and apply for work injury insurance (Swedish only)
Brief information about AFA Försäkring in English
Apply for compensation if you get injured while travelling or working abroad
If you go on a business trip, whether in Sweden or abroad, you are covered by the Swedish state's business travel insurance and can claim compensation from the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Agency.
Read more about business travel insurance
If you are stationed abroad with a URA contract, Umeå University has taken out collective insurance for you.
Read more about URA insurance
Apply for compensation if you are a doctoral student or a scholarship holder
Doctoral students and scholarship holders are insured through the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Agency (Kammarkollegiet). The insurance is valid in Sweden during school hours and during direct travel from their home to the University.
Read more and apply for compensation (Swedish only)