Forward-looking and interesting topics covered at the SSG Safety Conference 2025

Åse Lunde during the opening lecture. 

Åse Lunde opened the conference with a thought-provoking lecture on the importance of analysing who has access to an organisation’s resources and for what purpose. According to Lunde, a central aspect of safety is reporting deviations and understanding the situation under normal conditions in order to be able to identify something unusual.

She concluded with an invitation to participants to reflect on their organisation’s communication culture and safety awareness based on the current world situation:​ “Should we be afraid? No, but we must be aware of how things look around us. Unfortunately, we are in such a situation in Sweden and the world that these issues are not going to disappear.

Kristina Börjevik Kovaniemi from the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority attended the conference to talk about the investigation work following the tragic elevator accident in Ursvik. This work aroused great interest among the audience and many questions were put forward relating to systematic work environment management, management of subcontractors and investigation work.

Moderator Frida Boisen together with Andreas Karlsson, employee at Stora Enso in Skutskär.

Mental illness and crisis management

Several speakers addressed mental health and how employers can support employees, and likewise how coworkers can support each other.​

The presenter of this year’s SSG Safety Conference, the author, journalist and programme host Frida Boisen, shared a gripping personal story about her upbringing and daughter’s mental health, which touched many participants. 

In an interview with Frida Boisen, Andreas Karlsson, an employee at Stora Enso in Skutskär, told us about his personal experiences of bullying, depression and suicide attempts. He highlighted how the support of a responsive manager and loved ones played a crucial role in his recovery. He emphasised the importance of workplaces creating a culture where it is okay to talk about mental health issues and where managers listen to their employees, no matter how stressful things are.​

Safety culture and good relationships are the cornerstones of creating safe workplaces. But technical aids can also help create safer environments and prevent accidents. Alpay Aksoy, operational coordinator for traffic safety and security at the Stockholm Region Transport Administration, emphasised the importance of safety in the transport sector and talked about how technical solutions in Stockholm’s subway system, such as AI-based video analysis tools, can contribute to a safer travel experience for everyone.

Gurra Krantz on stage, known from the TV show “Over the Atlantic”.

We are in the same boat – the art of building strong teams

To conclude the first day, Gurra Krantz, known from the TV show “Over the Atlantic” on Kanal 5 and one of Sweden’s most experienced sailors with over 20 years of experience in professional racing sailing, took the stage.

He used sailing as a starting point to highlight the importance of leadership and teamwork: “Believing that you can do it without your team to support you – wow, what a mistake! Those who race understand the importance of having the whole team on board.”

He concluded by highlighting the qualities of generosity and care among colleagues as key factors for a well-functioning workplace.

Johan Engman from SSG spoke about AI and its potential. 

AI and the future of safety work

The second day of the conference focused on AI and its potential in safety work. The participants were given the opportunity to try out AI-based tools for transcription and summarising notes. The discussion highlighted both the advantages and risks of the technology.​

Johan Engman, Head of Innovation at SSG, presented future scenarios where AI can streamline work but not completely replace human creativity and intuition. He stressed that traits such as curiosity or skills such as communication and collaboration are becoming increasingly important in an AI-driven world.

He engaged the audience in questions about risks, safety aspects and opportunities related to AI and its impact on working life. Johan offered the audience exciting insights into the future that provoked both reflection and laughter.

Concluding thoughts

SSG Safety Conference 2025 inspired and engaged participants through lectures, the sharing of personal experiences, networking and practical insights. The overall message was about having courage. Having the courage to ask questions and listen attentively to the answers, having the courage to set boundaries and having the courage to highlight the efforts of others.