Violence and threats in the work environment – risk assessment, alarms, and procedures
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Violence and threats can occur during physical contact, over the phone, or via digital channels. AFS 2023:2 requires the employer to organize work to prevent risk as far as possible and to have specific safety procedures where risk exists.
Quick overview
- The rules can be found in Chapter 5 of AFS 2023:2.
- The employer must prevent the risk as far as possible.
- Specific safety procedures must be in place and kept up to date.
- Employees must be familiar with the procedures and, in cases of recurring risk, receive support and guidance.
- Lone work can be inappropriate or prohibited when help cannot arrive quickly enough.
| Risk landscape | Customers, patients, clients, cash, decisions, night work, and digital threats. |
| Prevent | Staffing, premises design, escape routes, information, and work methods. |
| Alarm | Portable or fixed alarm, testing, receiver, and expected response time. |
| After an incident | Emergency help, crisis support, documentation, reporting, and investigation. |
| Follow-up | Analyze patterns and revise procedures when the risk landscape changes. |
Identify when and where risk arises
The risk assessment should analyze situations, times, locations, and work tasks. Lone work, evenings and nights, government decisions, handling of theft-prone property, and meetings with intoxicated or aggressive individuals can increase the risk.
Safety procedures must be concrete
The procedures should describe preventive work methods, when work must not be performed alone, when an alarm should be used, how to call for help, and what colleagues or the manager should do. Affected employees must be familiar with the procedures.
Alarms must work in reality
It is not enough that alarm equipment exists. It needs to be tested, the receiver must know what the signal means, and help must be able to arrive. The risk assessment should take into account premises, mobile work, coverage, and response time.
After the incident: support, documentation, and learning
The Swedish Work Environment Authority states that incidents involving violence or threats must be followed up and documented. Investigate underlying work environment causes, check if the procedures worked, and plan measures. Serious incidents may also need to be reported.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Only training staff in interpersonal skills without reducing organizational risks.
- Never performing functional tests on alarms.
- Allowing lone work even though quick help cannot be arranged.
- Not including digital threats in the risk assessment.
- The investigation focusing on blame rather than underlying causes and improvements.
Common questions and answers
Do the rules also apply to threats via phone and the internet?
Yes. AFS 2023:2 covers the risk of violence and threats regardless of how the threat is conveyed.
Must all workplaces have personal alarms?
Not generally. The need and design are determined by the risk assessment.
Is it permitted to work alone where the risk of violence is high?
Lone work can be inappropriate or not permitted when there is a significant risk and the employee cannot receive quick help.
Should threats be documented even if no one was injured?
Yes, documentation and follow-up of incidents involving threats and violence are important for preventing recurrence. Serious incidents may also be subject to mandatory reporting.
Risk assessment, alarm plan, and safety procedures
The template package provides a structured foundation for risk landscape, alarms, safe work methods, incident management, and follow-up.
Sources and further reading
- Swedish Work Environment Authority – Violence and threats of violence
- Swedish Work Environment Authority – AFS 2023:2
Last updated: October 5, 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace a business-specific work environment assessment.
