SEK 9 million for research on safer work in the forestry industry
Through two new research projects at Halmstad University, the forestry industry will receive support to reduce workplace risks. The goal is to create safer workplaces for both employees and contractors.
The forest industry is a high‑risk work environment. New research at Halmstad University aims to strengthen safety culture across the sector.
Halmstad University has been granted a total of SEK 9.3 million to research safety culture in the forestry industry. The funding comes from AFA Insurance (SEK 4.3 million) and FORTE (SEK 5 million). Both projects will run between 2026 and 2028.
How risk observations are used in practice
One project focuses on risk observation systems. This is a tool that companies use to identify hazards at work. Together with several companies, the researchers will explore how the systems are actually used and how they can be improved. Centralfonden, a foundation that works for sustainable working life in forestry and the forest industry, is supporting the participating companies.
”This is a unique opportunity to study safety culture in real environments. The participating companies are committed and want to develop their work, which provides excellent conditions for creating knowledge that makes a difference”, says project leader Pia Ulvenblad, Professor at the School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability.
Focus on external contractors
The second project also includes external contractors. This is a group that plays an important role in the forestry industry but is rarely studied. Here, two doctoral students have been employed at the University to investigate how companies and contractors can work together to build a better safety culture.
“The most valuable aspect is the strong collaboration. The companies allocate time and resources to work systematically with safety issues, and this gives us the opportunity to follow and understand the development in depth”, says Pia Ulvenblad.
The projects strengthen the University’s research on work environment and social sustainability, with a focus on people who work in high-risk environments.
Text: Anna-Frida Agardson
Picture: Pixabay
