SSAB investigation fails to explain 34 illnesses at Luleå steelworks site

An investigation by the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) has found that SSAB cannot definitively explain why 34 workers at its new electric steelworks construction site in Luleå fell ill earlier this year. The symptoms reported by workers included nosebleeds, dizziness, headaches, and one case of chemical pneumonia.

SSAB had previously attributed the illnesses to fine construction dust, exacerbated by cold weather and respiratory viruses. However, an external review conducted by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute on behalf of SHK concluded that these findings are insufficient. The review noted that while the illnesses coincided with large-scale excavation, it remains unclear whether dust, gases released from the ground, or a combination of both caused the symptoms.

The investigation also highlighted discrepancies in SSAB’s data, noting that the company’s claims regarding unusually windy winter conditions were contradicted by meteorological records. Furthermore, the dates of illness for nearly one-quarter of the affected individuals did not align with the company’s own registers. While gases from nearby industries have been largely ruled out, the possibility of gases released during excavation remains under consideration.