Injury, near miss and risk observation

From February 2023, you will use a digital reporting account to file reports on occupational injuries, near misses and risk observations.

What you need to do

• Tell your head of department or your teacher what has happened and file a report via the link below. The report will be sent to your head of department.
  File a report
• If you are injured, 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 fellow students report provide your department 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 head of department 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 school hours when studying at home, during your traineeship or when studying abroad.

Work-related illness

A work-related illness is an illness that arises or worsens because of your studies or study conditions. Examples are:

• physical illness (cancer, asthma, allergies) because of contact with harmful substances during your studies
• 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. Examples are:

• 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 head of department or student 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.

What happens next

1. When you have filed your report, IA will notify your head of department.
2. Your head of department can assign the case to someone else, for example another manager or HR.
3. Your head of department, or other 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 to the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket).
4. Your head of department 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.
5. You will be cooperating on your case with your head of department/the assigned person and the student work environment representative.
6. After your report has been sent you can apply for compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) and from the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet).

Apply for compensation if you are eligible for social benefits 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 head of department 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, by your head of department, and the report is automatically transferred to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

If you are eligible for social benefits from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), you can claim compensation for your injury.

Read more about social benefits

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 if you are a university student

If you are a student at Umeå University, you are insured through an insurance at the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet). The insurance is called Insurance for students and doctoral students at Swedish universities, personal injury.

Read more and apply for compensation 

Apply for compensation if you are an incoming exchange student

If you are an incoming exchange student, you are insured through an insurance at the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet). The insurance is called Student IN.

Read more and apply for compensation

Apply for compensation if you are an outgoing exchange student

If you are an outgoing exchange student, you are insured through an insurance at the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet). The insurance is called Student OUT.

Read more and apply for compensation

Apply for compensation if you are a tuition fee paying student

If you are a tuition fee paying student, you are insured through an insurance at the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet). The insurance is called FASplus.

Read more and apply for compensation