More than one in three states that at some point they have worked without the right protective equipment, and more than sixth have done so in recent weeks. This is shown in a new survey from the trade union municipality where Novus asked questions to a representative sample of the union's members (see fact box.)

The survey also shows that every other employee is worried about the availability of protective equipment, and that 5 percent chose to go to work despite the cold symptoms, in most cases not to leave colleagues.

Several conflicts

In a number of places in the country, conflicts have arisen when staff have not received the equipment they requested. While unions and safety representatives wanted to see a minimum level of both oral protection and visor in all work close to covid patients, the responsible managers have been able to lean against the recommendations of the Public Health Authority which says that the oral protection should only be developed when there is a risk of "splashing".

SVT's review has shown how the Swedish Work Environment Authority has previously been critical of the concept of "splashing", and described it as misleading. But today, according to the management, there is no longer any criticism, and the term has been used several times to refute claims for oral protection.

As late as May 8, a responsible manager in Västra Göteborg even, in response to protests from the staff, felt that an "extreme danger of splashing and splashing" was required for the mouth guard to be pulled out.