Seven million for research on fire safety in the home - forskning.se

– This research grant with MSB, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, as the main financier means a flying start, says Ragnar Andersson, professor of risk management at Karlstad University. We have worked with downtown building for a couple of years now, and we have built up a good base based on the collaborative effort of various stakeholders, mainly the municipality of Karlstad and MSB, but also from a range of other stakeholders both within and outside the country. I think you can already say that we are at the forefront in Sweden in our niche that is about preventing injuries of various types.

Research Center for Safety and Security in everyday life
Karlstad University has established the Center for personal safety for the injury prevention work in the community. There are other academic centers of excellence, both in Sweden and internationally for safety issues in individual areas, but this is unique in its cross-sector width.

– target scenario is that we will consolidate the University’s position as a leading institution of higher education and research with regard to safety and security in everyday life. We have excellent opportunities for this through our established channels to several of the authorities nationally are responsible for different parts of this area, not least because some additionally located in the immediate area as the MSB, the Swedish Consumer Agency and the National Electrical Safety Board, says Ragnar Andersson.

One of the major public health problems in the world
concept of personal security involves all activities aimed at protecting people from injuries of various types. These benefits include, for example, children, the elderly, traffic, fire, product and patient safety and working environment. Most injuries are caused by accidents, but many also occur through deliberate violence from others or ourselves. Violence and suicide prevention, therefore, are also in the field. Overall, damage, according to the WHO classification, the leading cause of death among children, teenagers and young adults, and one of the main causes of hospitalization. This applies both in Sweden and in most other countries. This is therefore one of our main public health problem, both nationally and internationally.

– I want to emphasize that the research center is an open and shared platform for research and collaboration within the security person at the university, says Ragnar Andersson. In addition to the team I have around me are several researchers in other areas of the University which is also working on similar issues. It is good for both the research and the university that we are doing research in the field help each other to highlight this important profile area.