General Safety Requirements

At ESS we work to build and operate a state-of-the-art science research facility in a safe and efficient way.

ESS is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium based in Sweden and subject to Swedish Law and Regulations.
Every company doing business with ESS and perfoming work on the ESS site must comply with the general safety requirements outlined below.
Additional requirements may apply, depending on the work to be performed and site areas involved.

Work Environment Responsibility and Coordination

All contractors have the Work Environment responsibility for their own employees. ESS is responsible for coordinating the Work Environment between the parties.

Risk Assessment and Method Statement

Before starting to work on the ESS construction site, contractors must provide a description of the work, associated risks and mitigation measures. This information is provided through an ESS Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) and shall be submitted to ESS at least two weeks prior the start of the work.

ESS Safety and Area Coordinators review the RAMS. Once the information is complete, the RAMS is approved. This is one of the prerequisites for starting the work on site.

Work including the handling and storage of flammables and explosives, such as (gas) bottles containing flammable or oxidising substances, need to be approved by a Flammables and Explosives Officer (FEXO).

Work Orders

In order to start working on site, every team needs an approved Work Order, which must include the Risk Assessment and Method Statement.
ESS reviews Work Orders on a daily basis. However, it is strongly advised to submit requests between two and eight weeks before the start of the work.

Safety Training

General training
Everyone working on the ESS site must attend the mandatory Site Safety Induction training, provided by ESS.
Pre-registration is required at least one day prior to arrival.

Job and Area-specific training
Additional training might be required, depending on the hazards related to:

  • access to specific areas, including: radiation areas, cryogenics buildings, energised areas - high voltage.
  • specific activities, including: hot work, working at height, MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform, such as a scissor lift, sky lift, boom lift), operating forklift, mobile and overhead crane, performing lifting or coupling, work with chemicals.

First Aid and CPR training
It is strongly advised to have one person per work team trained in First Aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). This training becomes mandatory when working outside of normal working hours.

Incident Reporting

Everyone working on site must report safety-related incidents, such as: an accident; commuting accident (going directly to work and from work to home); near-miss; risk observation; work-related illness; property/security related incidents, such as theft; environmental incidents, such as spills, pollutions, abnormal noise levels; etc.

Incidents should be reported to the ESS Technical Contact and registered in the online incident reporting system, TIA (from the Swedish "Teknisk Informationssystem om Arbetsmiljö").

Personal Protective Equipment

The following personal protective equipment is mandatory at the worksite:

  • Safety helmet (white for supervisors, blue for site operatives "workers") (EN 397)
  • Safety goggles (EN 166). Helmets with visors are not an approved substitute for safety glasses.
  • Protective gloves (EN 388)
  • Protective shoes (toe cap and puncture-resistant soles) (EN ISO 20345)
  • High-visibility clothing on the upper body (Yellow unless other specified) (EN 471 class 2)
  • Long trousers

Personal protective equipment must be used to provide adequate protection against ill health and accidents.

The contractor is responsible for providing its personnel with the correct personal protective equipment. The user is responsible for maintaining and storing the equipment to retain its protective properties and hygienic standard.

All personal protective equipment needs to be purchased externally.

Additional personal protective equipment is to be used in accordance with current risk assessments/pre-task planning/safety instructions.

PPE, such as harnesses for working at height, must be inspected regularly.

Chemical Safety

Hazardous substances may only be used in accordance with the requirements set in the corresponding safety data sheet and the risk assessment related to the work foreseen.

  • Contractors must always submit information to the responsible manager for the work (including safety data sheets in English and Swedish) about chemical products/hazardous substances used in their work, and ensure that all individuals who should use these have received sufficient training and information about safe handling according to Swedish legislation.
  • Hazardous substances may only be stored on site in dedicated cupboards (to be discussed with the local area coordinator).
  • For each hazardous substance to be kept at the construction site, a printed copy of the safety data sheet in English and Swedish must be made available next to the storage cupboard.
  • All chemical products or hazardous substances need to be approved, together with the related risk assessment, before they can be used on site. Some may even need to be registered with the Swedish authorities.

Fire Safety

Hot work may only be executed by individuals with a valid Scandinavian hot work training certificate (Heta Arbeten). Hot work requires a permit from an ESS-authorised permit issuer (the local area coordinator). ESS applies and follows all relevant rules of the Swedish Fire Protection Association (SBF).

Everyone on site must be aware of the location of emergency exits and assembly points, as well as the location of portable fire extinguishers and first aid equipment. 

When not in use, gas cylinders are to be gathered outside of buildings in designated areas with posted warning signs. Stored gas cylinders shall be fitted with protective caps; no other equipment may be attached. The cylinders must always be stored upright and be well secured. 

Work vehicles are only to be refuelled at designated locations and must be switched off during fuelling.

Electrical Safety

Every team of contractors needs to appoint an Electrical Safety Leader in charge of the installation work, in collaboration with the ESS Electrical Operation Leader.

At least four weeks before arrival, you shall provide your ESS Reference Person with an Electrical Training certificate, with the content list in English, based on the standard Operation for Electrical installation (SS-EN 50110).

Only licensed electricians, or electricians working under a licensed electrician, may execute work on electrical installations on site.
At least four weeks before arrival, you shall provide your ESS Reference Person with a copy of your authorisation to perform electrical work, as requested by the Swedish Electrical Safety National Board.

More on ESS Rules for Electrical Safety:

  • Wherever possible, electrical cables are to be covered or suspended. Covers should not create a tripping hazard.
  • All electrical tools, equipment and cords must be checked on a regular basis and, if defective, be taken out of service immediately.
  • All electrical installations must be equipped with residual current devices.
  • Before any electrical work starts, where there is an electrical hazard, an Electrical Safety Leader shall be appointed in accordance to SS-EN 50110 (ESA-14).
  • All electrical work shall be planned with input from a risk assessment for the specific work.

Environment and Waste

Dust
To avoid exposing anyone to dust, measures are to be taken to reduce or shield work involving dust through pre-task planning and choice of methods, machinery and equipment.

Dust is to be collected or controlled as close to the source as possible, for example, by sprinkling roads, using dust covers on conveyor belts, through integrated dust suction on machinery/tools, by vacuuming floors, using local suction or through water suppression.

Waste management
Measures must be taken to manage waste/rubbish in a suitable manner at each area. 

  • Waste separation is to be carried out at designated areas according to the site plan.
  • Hazardous waste must be separated and handled in accordance with other Accident Prevention Measures.

Other Accident Prevention Measures

Safety barriers and devices
If the work involves a risk of someone else being injured, a temporary safety barrier shall be set up around the work area in question. 

  • Everyone on site must be aware of and respect the fact that high-risk areas within the worksite may be cordoned off and warning signs posted; for example, lifting areas, machine work areas and excavation areas.
  • Safety barriers must not be crossed.
  • All floor openings must be covered. The covers shall be fixed and clearly marked. The cover material must be able to bear any expected load. The cover may not be removed without permission from the responsible manager for the work. 
  • Before starting work that involves machinery, tools or technical equipment, the user must check that the required safety devices are functioning properly and are correctly and safely installed.  
  • Safety barriers, such as guardrails, may only be removed after a risk assessment/pre-task planning has been performed and separate approval has been obtained from the responsible manager. The person removing the safety devices must reinstate it where required and it is not allowed to leave the work area without reinstating the safety device.

Fall prevention/protection
Falling is the most common cause of serious accidents at worksites and the risk must always be mitigated.  

  • When a risk of fall injuries is identified, the risk is to be mitigated, primarily through the use of structures with guardrails, protective coverings or other technical solutions. Measures, such as safety nets or other collective protection, are to be used as a second option, and personal fall protection equipment as a third option. 
  • Work involving the use of personal fall protection equipment must never be executed by one person alone. A rescue plan must be prepared before work starts. 
  • When using mobile elevating work platforms, such as boom lifts or scissors lifts, personal fall protection equipment is mandatory. Everyone who enters the mobile elevating work platform must be attached to a designated anchor point. 
  • Ladders should only be used as an exception and in accordance with the risk assessment/pre-task planning approved by the responsible manager for the work. 
  • Working involving a risk of fall from a height of more than two metres may not be performed without fall protection equipment.

 

Relevant Information for Working in Sweden

Working in Sweden

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Access to the ESS Site

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ESS Code of Conduct and other Relevant Policies

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