Your working environment

Your occupational safety and health

The workplace must ensure that you can work safely and healthily. If
there are aspects of your work that are dangerous or tasks that may cause injury, the company must first and foremost prevent problems from arising. If a machine is dangerous regardless of such measures, it must be secured with protective screens, and if it is very noisy, this noise must be reduced. You must use personal protective equipment (such as earmuffs) only if it is impossible to do something about the problem.

Instruction and personal protective equipment

When you begin working, you employer must provide instruction in how you can perform your work in a manner that avoids unnecessary strain. If the work is dangerous, you must receive instruction in occupational
safety and personal protective equipment.

The work place must provide personal protective equipment that fits you and is suited to your work. A mistake has been made if you are not automatically provided with the necessary personal protective equipment. It is seen as completely acceptable to ask for such equipment. Of course, you must use the personal protective equipment as instructed.  

Rules for construction workers in Denmark.

Occupational safety is yet another reason it is important that you learn Danish. Many warning signs are only written in Danish and some of your colleagues may only speak Danish.

It is actually possible in Denmark to be fined for not taking care of yourself at work. You must always ask questions if you are in doubt about something. It is also ok to ask about the same thing more than once.

Speak up and take the initiative to ensure everyone's well-being

It is considered positive if you speak up when you know that the necessary occupational safety precautions have not been taken. This is true for both your own and your colleagues' occupational safety. If there are problems, it is quite natural that you tell your manager or safety representative about them. An example of this could be if you see a broken barricade or discover a defective machine. If you are a member of a trade union, you can also contact your trade union representative.

Taking the initiative to ensure everyone's well-being is an important part of the culture at Danish workplaces. You, your colleagues and your managers are expected to take initiatives to ensure a workplace where everyone can thrive. This is achieved by taking initiatives to improve cooperation and solving problems as a team. For example, sharing your experiences and knowledge with colleagues is viewed positively. It is also seen as a good initiative to provide assistance when you see that two of your colleagues have misunderstood each other.

Your psychosocial working envioronment is also important

Working environment is also a question of your mental well-being. The psychosocial working environment is comprised of your experiences at work and how they affect you mentally. Some experiences are very negative, such as problems with stress, threats, racism, or harassment.

If you personally experience such things or sense that your colleagues are experiencing problems of this nature, it is expected that you tell your colleagues, manager or safety representative. If there is a problem, employees and managers must work together to solve the problem in the same way as with problems in the physical working environment.

Conflicts must be prevented and resolved

Disagreement and frustrations can easily develop into bitter conflicts that result in a poor psychosocial working environment. Therefore, it is important to know how to handle conflicts and avoid escalation of these conflicts.

Conflicts typically arise when employees complain about each other's weaknesses and mistakes. On the other hand, it is typically possible to resolve conflicts by listening to each other, focusing on areas of agreement rather than disagreement, avoiding personal accusations and daring to look forward.

Many Danish companies work consciously with conflict prevention and resolution by strengthening communication and cooperation.