Occupational safety and health

Employers in Finland are responsible for work not endangering employees’ safety or health. The employer is responsible for providing new employees with orientation to their tasks and to occupational safety instructions.

Employees must also make sure that they do their work safely and abide by instructions. If you notice something dangerous at work, you must immediately notify your supervisor or occupational safety representative (työsuojeluvaltuutettu). The occupational safety and health authority (työsuojeluviranomainen) oversees that employers comply with occupational safety laws.

Employers are obligated to take occupational accident insurance, which reimburses the costs of accidents at work.

Employers must arrange preventive occupational health care which covers all employees. The employer must tell the employee which services are available through occupational health care.

Workplaces must be safe working environments

The Occupational Safety and Health Act dictates that workplaces must be safe and healthy. This is the responsibility of employers and supervisors. Work must be safe both physically and mentally. Employers must also make sure that employees do not fall ill because of work.

Occupational safety means precautions which ensure that the workplace is safe. Occupational safety is a shared task for the whole work community.

If you notice something dangerous at work, you must immediately notify a supervisor or an occupational safety representative. This can be, for instance, a dangerous work method, a broken tool or insufficient protective gear.An employee can also suggest how the work could be done in a safer manner.

The occupational safety representative oversees occupational safety at the workplace

The occupational safety representative also ensures occupational safety at the workplace. They are chosen among the employees by vote. The occupational safety representative’s task is to regularly observe matters connected to employee safety and health in the workplace, to inform the employer of any faults, and represent the employees in matters relating to occupational safety at work.

The occupational safety and health authority oversees compliance with laws at the workplace

The occupational safety and health authority oversees that employers comply with laws relating to occupational safety. The authority audits workplaces, advises employers and employees, and investigates the reasons for severe occupational accidents and occupational diseases.

More information about occupational safety: Health and safety at work (infofinland.fi) (Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian, Estonian, Ukrainian, French, Spanish, Turkish, Chinese, Farsi, Arabic)

The employer is obligated to organise workplace introduction

Employees need to be taught the correct work methods and they need to be told about occupational safety. The workplace needs to have clear instructions in case of an accident. All employees must know how to act in these situations. The employee must obey the employer’s instructions and do the work safely. If a work task is too dangerous, you can decline to do it.

Insurances cover the costs of occupational accidents or occupational diseases

According to Finnish law, employers must have insurance for occupational accidents and occupational diseases which cover all employees. This insurance covers the costs if an employee gets into an accident at work. The insurance also covers the costs if an employee gets an occupational disease from the job.

An occupational disease is a disease which is likely caused by an employee becoming exposed to some physical, chemical or biological factor. Common occupational diseases include hearing damage, asthma, allergic rash, and strain injuries to the hand or arm.
 
Often the employer is also obligated to take out a group life insurance policy. If an employee dies during or outside working hours, this insurance will grant an indemnity to the employee's family. 

Employees have access to occupational health care

Legally, an employer is obligated to organise occupational health care for their employees. The employer must offer occupational health care to all employees regardless of whether they are permanent, full-time or part-time employees.

The scope of occupational health care services varies according to the employer. Some employers offer their employees comprehensive occupational health care services; others only offer more limited services. You can ask about occupational health care from your future employer in a work interview.

Occupational health care is preventive health care which contains, for example, health checks. The employer can decide whether occupational health care also covers medical treatment and appointments with doctors, occupational health psychologists, or physiotherapists. The employer must tell their employees which services are included in occupational health care.

If an employee’s illness is suspected to be caused by work, investigation of this must begin in occupational health care. Occupational health care can be organised in a local health centre or a private medical centre. Services are only available for employees, not their families.