Work environment
This page describes the work environment at Parker's factory in Borås, Sweden.
Parker describes its work environment work as structured. The site manager is personally responsible. AMK manages risks. Occupational health care is available through Avonova. Safety representatives can stop production in case of danger.
That's the official picture.
Reality in the factory
In Borås there are three large halls: A, B and C. B and C are machine halls.
Blue-collar workers testify that the temperature in Hall C can reach up to 38°C in the summer. In the winter it gets cold. The ventilation is adjusted – but the effect is marginal. A proper AC system would cost millions and “must be counted home”.
The result is simple: the air remains bad.
Ergonomics are still a problem.
Material handlers lift heavy loads, day after day.
Many describe taking painkillers to cope.
Shoulders, backs and hands have worn out after decades in production.
Blue-collar Workers
Blue-collar workers in the Borås factory are self-driven, experienced and loyal. Forty years in service is not uncommon.
But when injuries occur, many can no longer keep up with the pace or all the tasks. There are few easy jobs left. If reassignments fail, workers risk ending up in a situation where they no longer fit in – even though the injuries occurred over many years of working at Parker.
Questions for Jennifer A. Parmentier
AI-generated illustration
Are you prepared to allocate funds for an AC system that provides the Borås factory with tolerable air quality?
Do you think the blue-collar workers who have worn out their bodies for Parker should risk losing their jobs when they can no longer keep up with the pace?
Can Parker allocate a portion of the profits to a fund that protects injured blue-collar workers from falling out of the workforce?
If you want to answer the questions, use the contact form and I will publish your answers.