Systematic Work Environment Management

About this course

Systematic Work Environment Management (SWEM), as a Nordic expression of systematic Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management, is a core approach for organising prevention in everyday operations across physical, ergonomic, chemical, and psychosocial risk areas. Rather than relying on one-off initiatives, SWEM provides a structured framework for identifying risks, prioritising preventive measures, assigning responsibilities, and following up on whether actions are effective.

This course introduces the principles, practices, and evidence behind SWEM and explores how it is interpreted and applied across the Nordic countries. Participants will gain insight into the organisational mechanisms that make SWEM effective in practice, including regulatory requirements, leadership commitment, worker participation, risk management, and continuous improvement.

Through lectures, discussions, case work, and practical examples, participants will learn how to design, implement, and evaluate SWEM in different organisational contexts, including small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Main topics

The course will cover topics such as:

• What do we mean by SWEM? Definitions, scope, and key concepts
• Core concepts and theory for SWEM, including continuous improvement and organisational learning
• SWEM in an international context (EU-regulation, ILO conventions, Vision Zero, OHS management systems)
• Comparing Nordic approaches to systematic work environment management
• Leadership commitment, worker participation, and risk management
• Company practices including governance models, organisational roles, and integration with operations
• SWEM in small and medium-sized enterprises
• Regulation, certification, audits, and other methods supporting the implementation of SWEM
• Integration of psychosocial risks in SWEM
• Evidence on the effectiveness of SWEM and the conditions that support successful outcomes, such as work injuries and sickness absence.
• Evaluation of and research in SWEM, including indicators, mechanisms, and outcome evaluation.

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Course objectives

Participants will gain an overview of key approaches to Systematic Work Environment Management (SWEM), and how SWEM is interpreted and applied across the Nordic countries. The course introduces the core mechanisms that make SWEM effective in practice, connecting formal system elements with day-to-day operations and tangible prevention outcomes.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to understand and evaluate SWEM as a continuous improvement process that integrates leadership commitment, worker participation, risk management, and measurable preventive actions. Participants will also understand how SWEM can be used to address and integrate prevention across physical, ergonomic, chemical, and psychosocial risk areas.

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Target group

The course is intended for:

• Labour inspectors and policymakers
• Researchers and PhD students
• Occupational safety and health professionals
• Managers and supervisors with responsibility for occupational safety and health
• Representatives of employer and employee organisations

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Subject background

Systematic Work Environment Management (SWEM) is a core management approach for turning occupational safety and health from one-off initiatives into a continuous, everyday practice that supports prevention in operations. It provides a common structure for identifying risks, prioritising preventive measures, assigning responsibilities, and following up on whether actions work across physical, chemical, ergonomic, and psychosocial occupational safety and health fields.

SWEM is closely aligned with the regulatory foundation for modern occupational safety and health in Europe. The EU Framework Directive 89/391/EEC establishes general principles for prevention, including risk assessment, elimination and control of risks, information, consultation and participation, and training. The Nordic countries have developed regulatory requirements for SWEM complying with the EU-framework directive, which helps organisations operationalise these principles in practice.

Because SWEM principles are relevant across sectors and risk types, and because they are increasingly embedded in how Nordic occupational safety and health is regulated and practiced, understanding SWEM is important for professionals working with prevention, compliance, organisational development, and workplace well-being.

For PhD students, the course can be approved as a 5 ECTS PhD course, including required reading and the submission of a final report.

General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on practical arrangements. Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Our venues for organising courses have carefully considered accessibility to ensure they cater to the needs of all participants. For detailed information about the hotel’s accessibility features, please read more here.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by 18th of March 2027: full refund
Cancellations received by 19th of March 2027 or later: no refund

NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

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Contact persons

Course leader

Johnny Dyreborg, Senior Researcher at National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark
email: JDY@nfa.dk

Peter Hasle, Professor, University of Southern Denmark, SDU Global Sustainable Production, Department of Technology and Innovation
email: hasle@iti.sdu.dk

In practical matters, please contact:

Nora Tobiasson, Project Manager at NIVA
email: nora.tobiasson@niva.org