Chemical risks – chemical inventory and risk assessment
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The employer must know which chemical risk sources exist or are generated in the business. According to AFS 2023:10, work may not be commenced before a risk assessment has been performed and necessary risk-reducing measures have been implemented.
Quick overview
- Chemical risk sources are primarily regulated in chapters 7–10 of AFS 2023:10.
- The employer must list chemical risk sources and state when the list was last updated.
- Safety data sheets are important documentation but do not replace the workplace's own risk assessment.
- Dust, smoke, process-generated substances, gases, and oxygen deficiency can also be chemical risk sources.
- New information or changed handling may require a new risk assessment.
| Inventory | Products, substances, process-generated dust/smoke/gas, and waste. |
| List | Names, hazardous properties, location of the risk source, and relevant regulations/limit values. |
| Assess | Exposure route, quantity, concentration, time, frequency, and hazardous reactions. |
| Remediate | Elimination/substitution, closed systems, ventilation, organization, and personal protective equipment. |
| Instruction | Safe handling, spills, fire, first aid, and waste. |
The list is the starting point
Chapter 7, Section 6 of AFS 2023:10 requires that chemical risk sources handled or generated in the business be listed. The list must be useful as a basis for the risk assessment and kept up to date.
Safety data sheets are not the entire risk assessment
The data sheet describes the product's hazards, but the employer must assess the actual usage: temperature, quantity, aerosol/dust, ventilation, mixtures, exposure time, and which employees are affected.
Remediate according to a clear hierarchy
If possible, the risk source should be removed or replaced with something less hazardous. Thereafter, technical solutions such as closed processes and ventilation are tested, followed by organizational measures and, finally, personal protective equipment where risk remains.
Safety instructions must be comprehensible
Documentation aimed at employees must, according to the regulations, be clear, easy to read, well-structured, and in Swedish or another language used by the entire staff. The instruction should describe normal handling and what applies in the event of a spill, fire, or other deviation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Only listing purchased chemical products and missing substances that are generated in the process.
- Letting safety data sheets replace your own risk assessment.
- The list lacking dates or relevant limit values/special regulations.
- Choosing personal protective equipment before substitution and technical measures have been tested.
- Old products remaining on the list while new ones are not added.
Frequently asked questions
Must all chemicals be on the list?
All chemical risk sources that are covered and handled or generated in the business must be identified and listed according to the regulations.
Is dust a chemical risk source?
Yes. Chemical risk sources include more than products in containers, such as dust, smoke, and substances generated in processes.
Is a current safety data sheet enough?
No. The employer must assess the actual handling and exposure in their own business.
When should the risk assessment be redone?
Among other times, when new information about risks emerges or when changes affect handling, exposure, or protective measures.
Chemical list, risk assessment, and safety instruction
The template package provides structure from inventory to risk assessment, decided measures, and practical safety instructions.
Sources and further reading
- Swedish Work Environment Authority – AFS 2023:10 Risks in the work environment
- Swedish Work Environment Authority – List of chemical risk sources
Last updated: October 5, 2026. This article is general information and does not replace a business-specific work environment assessment.
