On 3 May 1999, the chief prosecutor in Malmö applied for a summons to the Ängelholms district court (tingsrätt) situated in the neighbourhood of Hallandsåsen, where a poisonous chemical, the compound Rhoca Ghil, was released between March and October 1997. The prosecutor is seeking to make two deputy directors at the Swedish building company Skanska personally liable for violating the Work Environment Act (arbetsmiljölagen/SFS 1977:1160/). The prosecutor also seeks to make another person, the managing director of the French-owned company formerly known as Rhone Poulenc Sverige AB (its name today is Rhodia Sverige AB) personally liable for infringing the Chemical Products Act (lagen om kemiska produkter, /SFS 1985:426/). The three accused are being held responsible for failing to follow the regulations in assessing the health and safety risks, not having given enough information about Rhoca Ghil, and not having provided sufficient protective equipment for the workers.
In May 1999, two deputy directors at the Swedish building company Skanska were accused by the chief prosecutor in Malmö of violating the Work Environment Act, while the managing director of the former Rhone Poulenc Sverige was accused of violating the Chemical Products Act. The cases relate to the release of a poisonous chemical in Hallandsåsen between March and October 1997.
On 3 May 1999, the chief prosecutor in Malmö applied for a summons to the Ängelholms district court (tingsrätt) situated in the neighbourhood of Hallandsåsen, where a poisonous chemical, the compound Rhoca Ghil, was released between March and October 1997. The prosecutor is seeking to make two deputy directors at the Swedish building company Skanska personally liable for violating the Work Environment Act (arbetsmiljölagen_SFS 1977:1160_). The prosecutor also seeks to make another person, the managing director of the French-owned company formerly known as Rhone Poulenc Sverige AB (its name today is Rhodia Sverige AB) personally liable for infringing the Chemical Products Act (lagen om kemiska produkter, SFS 1985:426). The three accused are being held responsible for failing to follow the regulations in assessing the health and safety risks, not having given enough information about Rhoca Ghil, and not having provided sufficient protective equipment for the workers.
In August 1997, the first discovery was made of the poison acrylamid in small lakes and rivers near the Hallandsåsen ridge, through which Skanska was digging a railway tunnel (). Cattle and fish were found dead and work immediately ceased inside the tunnel and the use of the French-made compound Rhoca Ghil was terminated. About 220 workers involved were medically surveyed. Some workers reported prickling sensations and numbness in their feet and arms and there was a suspicion that they had received injuries to the nervous system. In March 1999, an out-of-court settlement between Skanska and 22 of the workers was agreed, awarding those who were injured by the poison between SEK 20,000 and SEK 50,000 each. The two workers who were still suffering pains received the higher sum. In all, Skanska has paid SEK 29 million in settling claims to people, mostly small farmers living nearby who lost their cattle, and also to local dairies and other enterprises.
The decision to prosecute the managers is only part of the legal process. The chief prosecutor in Malmö is preparing to prosecute on all the alleged violations - which involve the Water Act (vattenlagen) and the Code of Crimes (brottsbalken) - with the aim of bringing joint proceedings.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1999), Skanska accused of violating Work Environment Act, article.
