How a good working environment is secured in Denmark
Working environment efforts in Denmark are coordinated as a cooperation between companies, employees, trade unions, employers' association and public authorities.
The Danish Act on Working Environment and cooperation at the workplace
All EU countries have working environment legislation. This is also true of Denmark.
The Danish Act on Working Environment includes requirements and provisions to ensure that Danish working environments are fully sound in terms of occupational safety and health.
This act includes rules about machines and personal protective equipment, psychosocial working environment, chemicals and computer work. The act also includes general rules such as the rule that employees must normally have at least 11 hours from the time they go home from work until they have to be at work again. The act describes how the working environment must be structured for pregnant and nursing women and includes special rules about work by minors.
In Denmark, there is a tradition of employers and employees working together to ensure a good working environment. Therefore, most companies observe the requirements of the Danish Act on Working Environment. Through voluntary agreements, companies also have the option of improving the working environment efforts beyond the requirements of the act.
Special rules for construction.
Who works with occupational safety and health at your workplace?
Who must you speak with if you have problems with your working environment?
In smaller companies, you must speak directly with your employer.
At workplaces with 10 or more employees, you and your colleagues elect a colleague to serve as the safety representative. The safety representative is the person who learns about the working environment rules and has a good overview of the potential problems with occupational safety and health and the prevention and limitation of adverse affects of strenuous work. This is the person with whom you must speak.
When there are more than 10 employees, there must also be a safety committee. This typically consists of an employer representative and an elected safety representative. The safety committee performs the practical work relating to the working environment.
At even larger companies, there may be multiple safety committees. If there are more than 20 employees, an additional coordinating safety committee must be established.
Workplace risk assessment
One of the most important aspects of preventative work is to conduct workplace risk assessments. The strenuous work and dangerous elements at a workplace are documented in a workplace risk assessment and all work routines are thoroughly examined.
If it turns out that there are some dangerous conditions, these must be prevented to the greatest possible degree. Otherwise, the company must determine what can be done to minimise the risk.
The workplace risk assessment must be updated when there are changes that have an impact on the working environment. However, all workplaces must conduct a new workplace risk assessment at least once every three years. There are special rules for construction sites. A workplace risk assessment must be conducted if the construction site exists for more than 14 days.
Read more about workplace risk assessments.