Risk management - the Swedish way(s)

We have compared three legal and administrative systems of risk management in Sweden, namely those responsible for work environment, environmental pro tection and chemicals control. Large differences were found in terms of the organisational structure and the general modi operandi of government activ ities in the three areas. Many of these differences seem to be the result n ot of deliberate choice, but rather of the lack of coordination between pol icy areas. One of the most striking differences is the much lower priority assigned to enforcement activities in the environmental than in the occupat ional health sector. It is concluded that systematic comparisons of experie nces from different policy areas can be helpful in improving the efficiency of risk management. (C) 1999 Academic Press.