Appendix C
A National Knowledge Centre for the Work Environment
– Objectives and Activities (English translation of chapter 1)
The following text gives a summary of the viewpoints and suggestions of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Work Environment Policy (Arbetsmiljöpolitiska kunskapsrådet) regarding a coordinating agent for the dissemination of work environment knowledge1 or, in the words of the Advisory Committee, a
National Knowledge Centre for the Work Environment. The Advisory Committee has developed these suggestions with due consideration to the opinions of a multitude of stakeholders in work environment practice and research as interviewed by the Advisory Committee in late spring 2011, and with consideration to policy documents2 behind the Government’s 2010 action plan3 for the work environment policy.
Needs and opportunities for a National Knowledge Centre for the Work Environment
In earlier reports the Advisory Committee has shown that a good work environment and wise routines for managing the work environment are decisive factors for profitability, efficiency, and competitive power in both business and public organisations4, and for increasing the feasibility for groups with demonstrated diffi-
1cf. Skr. 2009/10:248.
2In particular Ds. 2008:16.
3Skr. 2009/10:248.
4God arbetsmiljö – en framgångsfaktor? SOU 2009:47 (in Swedish with summaries in English).
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culties in attaining or retaining a job to be part of working life5. A wise and effective work environment management requires that up-
The Advisory Committee has concluded that the current level of dissemination of knowledge is dissatisfactory, a view supported by a majority of the interviewed stakeholders who represent worker representatives and employers, practitioners and researchers. Several stakeholders did, indeed, demonstrate knowledge dissemination, but did so from their own standpoint to meet specific commissions rather than in response to a recognized national need. In many cases, these endeavours lacked
The Advisory Committee believes there are currently favourable conditions for realizing these national needs. The Swedish government has stressed that the work environment is a national concern through its action plan for the work environment policy, and the worker representatives and employers prioritize work environment issues. Also, the high standard of Swedish work environment research continues to be reputed internationally, although the Advisory Committee underscores their anxiety for its future, as expressed in reports by other authorities6. Thus, the Advisory Committee concludes that there is a strong base for creating – in some organisational form – an eminent and effective national centre for the dissemination and preservation of work environment
5Inkluderande arbetsliv. SOU 2009:93 (in Swedish with summaries in English).
6Svensk arbetslivsforskning – en resurs för välfärd, hälsa och tillväxt. In Swedish; Swedish Council for Working Life and Social research, 2009.
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knowledge, in
Superior aims, goals and marks of the Knowledge Centre
The National Knowledge Centre shall, from a
The
The activities of the Knowledge Centre shall be characterized by credibility, effectiveness and foresight.
Activities of the Knowledge Centre
•Watch the work environment
The Knowledge Centre shall, with a
•Follow knowledge developments
The Knowledge Centre shall keep track of and disseminate recent results from work environment research, in particular within the issues identified as the most important.
•Make knowledge accessible
The Knowledge Centre shall facilitate contacts between work environment practitioners and researchers, and act to make relevant results from research accessible and useful for work environment practitioners.
•Review knowledge
The Knowledge Centre shall be responsible for reviews of work environment knowledge in areas considered important from a national perspective, and where no other stakeholder acts. This can include methodological as well as thematic issues.
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•Be a national representative
The Knowledge Centre shall represent Sweden in certain international work environment bodies and networks, and act as a national reviewer on international matters within its area.
In the long run, additional activities may be appropriate for the Knowledge Centre, including: initiatives towards the development of infrastructure to facilitate
Target groups of the Knowledge Centre
The target groups for the Knowledge Centre are those with either an active role in the formation of the work environment, or those who contribute to creating and disseminating work environment knowledge. This would include, but is not limited to: political decision makers on issues that directly or indirectly have a bearing on the work environment; work environment practitioners in enterprises and public organisations; teachers in education programmes related to the work environment; researchers interested in reaching practitioners in working life; and people who develop and mediate work environment products.
Organisation and location of the Knowledge Centre
The Advisory Committee considers it necessary to decide about the aims and activities of a National Knowledge Centre before discussions on issues such as resources, organisation, and location are relevant at anything more than a hypothetical level.
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