Work Environment & Whistleblowing
Work environment
As a self-employed contractor through WorkNode, your work environment is important. Responsibility for your work environment rests with you, your client and us at WorkNode. A good work environment means that you are not at risk of becoming ill or being injured at work. You should not suffer physical pain from sitting incorrectly or repeating the same movements for several hours at a time, nor lose control of a vehicle or be injured by a machine. It may also mean having the right lighting, being able to lift without pain, or not having to feel threatened at work. A good psychological and social work environment is equally important. An excessive workload is one example of a poor work environment. If you have too much to do, or feel that you cannot keep up despite working hard, you may become ill. The social work environment concerns your situation at work together with your colleagues. A person who feels lonely, rejected or excluded at a workplace may become ill.
As a self-employed contractor, you are often new to a workplace, since every workplace is unique and has its own culture, work environment and particular risks. Make sure that your client gives you sufficient information about the workplace where you will perform the assignment.
If you perform the assignment at home, in a public environment or at another place that is not a controlled workplace, you are entirely responsible for your own work environment. Remember to take time to consider the risks and the opportunities you have to influence your work environment so as to avoid injury.
At a workplace
When you begin a new assignment, many things are unfamiliar. It is therefore important that you receive a proper introduction to your duties and the risks involved.
the duties and how you are to perform them
manuals, checklists and other written instructions needed for the work
the accident risks involved in the work and how to protect against them
any personal protective equipment available and how to use it
how any tools, machinery and other equipment work
where fire-fighting and first-aid equipment is located, and how alarm procedures work
the general workplace routines, premises, break times and lunch facilities, and anything else that helps you feel included
whom to contact with questions about the work environment
who your immediate managers and any supervisors are. You must also be given information about safety representatives and trade-union representatives.
Speak up if you do not understand or still feel unsure about how to perform the task. Learning a new task can take time, so make sure you are given the time you need. This is important—a good introduction reduces the risk of injury at work.
Who is responsible for your work environment?
Your client, together with you, must take responsibility for a good work environment. If you need WorkNode's support to have any risks or need for changes in your work environment addressed, contact WorkNode at hello@worknode.se.
Contact your client or the manager at your workplace if you discover deficiencies in the work environment that could cause illness or injury. If there are safety representatives and trade-union representatives, you may also contact them. If your client does not respond, contact WorkNode at hello@worknode.se.
Do not be afraid to ask if you do not understand.
You must not become ill or be injured because of your work. Nor should you suffer back pain or stiffness from repeating the same movements for several hours. Your client must ensure that the work environment is good, but cannot know everything that happens. You therefore also have personal responsibility. You must follow the workplace instructions and use any protective equipment. Make sure you receive a good introduction. If you discover any deficiency in the work environment that could cause injury, immediately contact your client in the first instance; if nothing changes, contact WorkNode at support@worknode.se.
Whistleblowing
WorkNode wishes to protect and safeguard those who raise the alarm about misconduct at their client or within the company's operations. It is of the utmost importance to WorkNode that the company is made aware of such misconduct so that it can be remedied as effectively and promptly as possible. There is therefore a whistleblowing policy and reporting channel that must be used to raise concerns about misconduct that may in any way harm or adversely affect the company or its employees. The whistleblowing system is operated by Arbetsrättsbyrån MBL 11.
Link to the whistleblowing system: www.mbl11.se/rapporteringskanal/
If the misconduct occurs solely within the client's operations, the client's whistleblowing system should be used first (if one exists).
Checklist before every assignment
Register the assignment
Do so via /en/pre-registration
Prepare an assignment agreement
Use templates from WorkNode or search online
Assess the work environment
Use our own checklist or Prevent – Risk Assessment
Dialogue with the client
Use Prevent – Checklist for agency workers
Safety and protection
Use the correct equipment; read more about protective equipment on the Swedish Work Environment Authority's website
Document everything
Keep agreements, assessments and communications
