Labour protection

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health directs the The Occupational Safety and Health Department at the Finnish Supervisory Agency. The department is responsible for regulatory control of working conditions and workplace inspections.

Occupational safety and health authorities may conduct inspections at workplaces. An occupational safety and health inspector is entitled to access information on work done, terms and conditions of employment, health and safety of the working environment, and occupational health services.

The inspector will prepare a written report of the inspection, and may issue recommendations to promote occupational safety and health. If these recommendations are not observed, then the inspector may issue a written instruction to the employer. If the employer fails to comply with the instruction, then the inspector may issue a written order to rectify any conditions that fall short of the statutory standard. If the employer also fails to comply with this order, then the inspector may refer the case to the Finnish Supervisory Agency's Occupational Safety and Health Department, which may lead to coercive administrative measures and possible legal proceedings.

The employer must appoint a head of labour protection for each workplace. The employees will have an elected safety representative and two deputy representatives, who must be elected at any workplace with ten or more employees. Employees in smaller workplaces may also elect such representatives.

A labour protection commission will be elected if at least 20 employees work regularly at a workplace.

Labour protection co-operation promotes safe and healthy working conditions and extended working careers. This co-operation may cover one or more places or business or operating units.

The subjects covered by labour protection co-operation include:

• matters affecting the safety, health and working capacity of employees,
• matters affecting the work, working environment and working community,
• the ongoing situation or any changes, and
• matters arising from the organisation, planning and monitoring of work.

Head of labour protection

• represents the employer in labour protection co-operation,
• is responsible for arranging and developing labour protection co-operation, and
• must be appropriately authorised for labour protection duties.

Elected safety representative

• represents the employees for labour protection purposes,
• participates in formulating and deciding labour protection policies,
• participates in workplace inspections,
• calls attention to matters that promote the health and safety of employees at work,
• is entitled to the information that is necessary for conducting labour protection co-operation, and
• is entitled to training and adequate job release time to attend to the duties of a delegate.