Updates on the situation at the new steel plant construction site in Luleå

What has happened?

• Since November 2025, SSAB has been carrying out site preparation works with contractors. The ground is being prepared for a new steel plant that will produce fossil-free steel and is scheduled for completion in 2029. The work is being carried out on a former industrial site.
• On 19 February, SSAB was informed by a contractor of an initial case of illness, after which work was paused and relocated. SSAB initiated additional measurements in air and soil, which did not show any exceedances of limit values.
• On 23 March, SSAB received further reports of symptoms from contractors, leading to all work at the site being halted.
• More contractor employees reported symptoms after working at a different location and with other tasks, leading SSAB on 3 April to pause all work across the entire construction site.
• In total, 34 incidents related to symptoms or cases of illness have been reported.

• Since the start of the site preparation work, SSAB has carried out a large number of tests in air and soil. The area where the new steel plant is being built has a long industrial history and is contaminated.
• Since the environmental permit application was submitted in 2023, more than 1,700 samples have been analysed at the construction site.
• SSAB has carried out extensive measurements to determine the causes behind the symptoms reported by workers at the site.
• Since the start of the work, SSAB has also conducted extensive testing in air and soil, including more than 200,000 gas measurements.
• Measurements of indoor air in office spaces, extensive particle measurements, and measurements under production-like conditions have been carried out.
• As SSAB received information about symptoms and illness cases, monitoring in air and soil was intensified, without identifying any elevated levels.
• All measurement results are well below applicable occupational exposure limits set by the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
• Measurements and analyses have been carried out with the support of experts in the respective fields as well as medical experts

• SSAB will initiate reopening of the site following completion of the analysis into the causes of the reported symptoms.
• The overall conclusion is that the symptoms are the result of a combination of factors, with exposure to fine dust particles from construction activities being the primary factor. The effects of fine dust are amplified by low humidity and the presence of seasonal respiratory viruses during the period.
• No individual measurement results exceeded applicable limit values.
• Gas exposure and exposure to contaminated soil have been investigated and were not identified as contributing factors.
• Dust levels have generally been within normal levels for this type of construction site.
• The health and safety of employees and contractors is SSAB’s highest priority. The restart will take place in a controlled and stepwise manner starting on 27 May, area by area, in cooperation with contractors and in dialogue with relevant authorities.
• Work will resume in accordance with a restart protocol that includes requirements for risk assessments for each activity, protective measures and personal protective equipment, work permits, and properly informed and instructed personnel.
• Work will follow updated work environment plans and is based on completed risk assessments and impact analyses in line with applicable occupational health and safety requirements.
• The paused work is not expected to have any material impact on the overall project schedule or budget.