On a Building Site
Bygget, skyddsrond, fikabod — the language of a Swedish construction site.
A full working life on a Swedish building site, from the morning fika hut to the day you drive past and point: bodetableringen, ID06, skyddsronder, underentreprenörskedjor, ÄTA-bråk, vinterbyggen — and taklagsfest.
- 1
bygget
the site
Tip: lit. 'the build' — what everyone calls it.
- 2
en bodetablering
a site hut
Tip: lit. the same — the row of portacabins.
- 3
fikaboden
the coffee hut
Tip: lit. the same — the social centre.
- 4
fika klockan nio
morning coffee at nine
Tip: lit. the same — non-negotiable.
- 5
en skyddshjälm
a hard hat
Tip: lit. the same.
- 6
skyddsskor
safety boots
Tip: lit. the same.
- 7
en varseljacka
a high-visibility jacket
Tip: lit. the same.
- 8
skyddsglasögon
safety glasses
Tip: lit. the same.
- 9
hörselkåpor
ear defenders
Tip: lit. the same.
- 10
en sele
a safety harness
Tip: lit. the same — for working at height.
- 11
en säkerhetsgenomgång
a safety induction
Tip: lit. the same — before you set foot on site.
- 12
ett ID06-kort
a site card
Tip: lit. the same — nobody works without one.
- 13
logga in elektroniskt
to check in electronically
Tip: lit. the same — every morning.
- 14
en skyddsrond
a safety round
Tip: lit. the same — a formal walk-through.
- 15
en riskbedömning
a risk assessment
Tip: lit. the same — before every new task.
- 16
ett tillbud
a near miss
Tip: lit. the same — reportable.
- 17
en arbetsplatsolycka
an accident at work
Tip: lit. the same.
- 18
stoppa farligt arbete
to stop dangerous work
Tip: lit. the same — the safety rep's legal power.
- 19
skyddsombudet
the safety representative
Tip: lit. the same.
- 20
en platschef
a site manager
Tip: lit. the same.
- 21
en arbetsledare
a foreman
Tip: lit. the same.
- 22
en underentreprenör
a subcontractor
Tip: lit. the same.
- 23
en kedja av underentreprenörer
a chain of subcontractors
Tip: lit. the same — and the problems it causes.
- 24
svart arbetskraft
unregistered labour
Tip: lit. 'black labour'.
- 25
ett kollektivavtal
a collective agreement
Tip: lit. the same.
- 26
en blockad mot ett företag
a blockade against a firm
Tip: lit. the same — the union's tool.
- 27
ritningarna
the drawings
Tip: lit. the same.
- 28
en reviderad ritning
a revised drawing
Tip: lit. the same — arriving too late.
- 29
bygga efter fel version
to build to the wrong version
Tip: lit. the same.
- 30
riva ut det igen
to tear it out again
Tip: lit. the same.
- 31
en ÄTA
a variation order
Tip: lit. 'ändrings- och tilläggsarbete' — extra work, extra cost.
- 32
vem betalar för det?
who pays for that?
Tip: lit. the same — the eternal question.
- 33
komma efter i tidplanen
to fall behind schedule
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
ett vite
a delay penalty
Tip: lit. the same.
- 35
jobba övertid för att komma ikapp
to work overtime to catch up
Tip: lit. the same.
- 36
gjutningen
the concrete pour
Tip: lit. the same — you cannot postpone it.
- 37
tjäle i marken
frost in the ground
Tip: lit. the same — a Swedish problem.
- 38
värma plattan
to heat the slab
Tip: lit. the same.
- 39
ett vinterbygge
a winter site
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
minus tjugo och fortfarande jobb
minus twenty and still working
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
taklagsfest
the topping-out party
Tip: lit. the same — when the roof goes on.
- 42
öl och korv på bygget
beer and sausage on site
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
slutbesiktningen
the handover
Tip: lit. 'the final inspection'.
- 44
en anmärkningslista
a snagging list
Tip: lit. the same.
- 45
åtgärda anmärkningarna
to put things right
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
garantibesiktning efter två år
the two-year warranty
Tip: lit. the same.
- 47
köra förbi flera år senare
to drive past years later
Tip: lit. the same.
- 48
och peka på huset
and point at the building
Tip: lit. the same.
- 49
det där byggde jag
I built that
Tip: lit. the same.
- 50
vilket aldrig blir tråkigt
which never gets old
Tip: lit. the same.