dubbelkontroll

Dubbelkontroll is a practice in which a task or decision is verified by two independent checks to prevent errors, omissions, or fraud. The aim is to increase reliability and safety by ensuring that a single person cannot unilaterally authorize a critical action. The two checks are ideally performed by different individuals who do not influence each other’s judgment.

The term is Swedish, combining dubbel (double) and kontroll (control). In English, equivalents include dual control or two-person rule. The concept appears across industries and cultures with similar variants, emphasizing independent verification as a safeguard against human error.

Common domains for dubbelkontroll include healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and information security. In healthcare, it often governs high‑risk medications, patient identity verification, and dosing verification. In manufacturing, two‑person verification may be required for release of products or for calibration and adjustments. In finance, dual approvals are used for large transfers or changes to critical accounts. In IT and security, two‑person authorization can govern privileged changes or access to sensitive systems.

Implementation typically follows a defined workflow with documentation and checklists. The second party’s verification should be independent rather than a simple repetition of the first check, and discrepancies should trigger escalation or a halt in the process. Effective dubbelkontroll also relies on proper training and an organizational culture that prioritizes safety and accountability.

Benefits include reduced risk of human error and fraud and improved transparency. Limitations include potential delays, higher costs, and the need to ensure genuine independence between checks. In some contexts, automation and risk‑based controls can complement or substitute for manual doble verification.

See also: two‑person rule; segregation of duties; quality control; compliance.