Assessing and addressing hazards in the maintenance of battery electric vehicles: a safe work environment during the green transition
More electric vehicles means a rising need for repair work, but there is little research on the risks of this growing type of work.
There is an intensifying transition towards ‘plug-in’ cars, both fully-electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles as a means of reducing the carbon emissions and climate effects associated with fossil fuels. As the existing fleet of plug-in passenger vehicles gets older, the repair needs increase. However, currently there is almost no published scientific research investigating either the frequency of adverse health outcomes related to repairing plug-in vehicles, nor any actual exposure assessments or risk assessments during repair of plug-in vehicles.
The overarching aim of this project is to improve the work environment of auto maintenance workers during the ongoing ‘green transition’ towards battery electric vehicles. To address the current knowledge gaps, the project poses four main research questions:
- What are the hazards of repairing plug-in vehicles, and what control strategies can be recommended to mitigate these hazards?
- What is the frequency of workplace adverse events when repairing plug-in vehicles? What were the contextual factors leading to these events, and what kinds of injuries and/or illnesses have resulted?
- To what degree are workers exposed to ergonomic, chemical, fire, and electrical hazards when repairing plug-in vehicles?
- What kinds of safe work practices can be communicated to those working with plug-in vehicle repair ?
News and Publications about this study
Project funding
Afa försäkring 20240302
Project leader
Project team
Lena Andersson
Docent, Occupational and environmental medicine
Örebro University Hospital
lenaa2@kth.se