Research project Reindeer herding is one of the most high-risk occupations in Sweden—around two-thirds of the country’s reindeer herders have been injured at work, and one-third suffer from long-term health problems. Despite this, there is a lack of both research and effective methods for identifying and managing risks in the profession.
The project aims, in collaboration with the Swedish Sami National Association (SSR), to develop a model for identifying and managing work-related risks. Working conditions will be mapped through interviews, observations, and a survey. The outcome will be a tool and a model tailored to the unique conditions of reindeer herding—sought after at local, national, and international levels.
Jon Petter Stoor, Ellacarin Blind, and Robert Lundmark are part of the project group.
Approximately two-thirds of the professional reindeer herders in Sweden have been injured at work, and as a consequence, one-third is suffering from permanently deteriorated health. At the same time, knowledge on reindeer herders’ working conditions is sparse, and evaluated interventions to improve their occupational health and safety are largely non-existent. Reindeer herders work is uniquely organized with unique work tasks, and unique risks. Therefore, the risks that they are exposed to also need to be uniquely managed. The overall aim of this project is to develop, implement, and evaluate a prototype for managing occupational health and safety risks for reindeer herders within the Sámi communities in Sweden. All parts of the project will be executed in close collaboration with the Sámiid Riikkasearvi - Swedish Sámi Association (SSR).
We will conduct observations and interviews in the Sámi villages, as well as develop and validate a questionnaire that aligns with the demands and resources and safety and health outcomes relevant for reindeer herding. Based on these findings, we will cocreate, implement, and evaluate a prototype for managing occupational health and safety risks in the reindeer herding community.
The project will provide significant new knowledge on reindeer herders’ working conditions, health, and safety. Beyond the development of a questionnaire to be used for mapping, the project will provide a prototype for managing occupational health and safety risks in this high-risk occupation. Locally, nationally, and internationally, the importance of taking measures to reduce accidents and ill-health among the Sámi reindeer herding population has been stressed.
The project group consists of researchers within Lávvuo who together possess extensive experience in Sámi health as well as health and safety at work. The group also has solid knowledge of survey development and intervention codesign and evaluation. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with reindeer herders in all parts. Salary costs constitute most of the budget.
