Benefits of the practices for promoting and supporting work ability

The legislation specifies the tasks whose performance requires an exemption, authorisation or certificate of competency from the occupational safety and health authority. This type of work includes asbestos removal, blasting (charger’s certificate) and underwater construction work.

Also remember that

• the performance of some tasks by young people is completely prohibited, and the performance of certain work requires permission from the occupational safety and health authority
• occupational safety and health authorities must be notified of any occupational diseases and serious occupational injuries.

Check the Suomi.fi permit list to see which permits you need and which notifications you must submit.

• Currently valid labour legislation - Ministry of Ecconomic Affairs and EmploymentOpens in a new window.
• Currently valid labour protection legislation in Finnsih and Swedish - Tyosuojelu.fiOpens in a new window.
• Collective agreements and local bargaining - Suomi.fi
• Guides - Tyosuojelu.fiOpens in a new window.
• Webinars - Tyosuojelu.fiOpens in a new window.
• Podcasts in Finnish - Tyosuojelu.fiOpens in a new window.
• Workplace bulletins - Tyosuojelu.fiOpens in a new window.
• Flexible workplace - Suomi.fi

The occupational safety and health authorities of the Finnish Supervisory Agency enforce that the employer complies with the statutory obligations.

The enforcement is mainly implemented in the form of occupational safety and health inspections performed at workplaces.

• The enforcement tends to focus first and foremost on companies in sectors where occupational safety risks are the greatest. Inspections are also carried out by theme as well as on the basis of feedback from workplaces and organisations.
• An occupational safety and health inspector will usually give prior notification of their inspection visits and matters that will be inspected. However, an inspector may also arrive for an inspection unannounced.
• Inspection visits are focused on providing guidance and support for your company’s occupational safety and the development of working conditions. The workplace receives an inspection report from the inspection.

If deficiencies are detected in the workplace, the inspector issues written instructions or a request to eliminate or rectify a situation that violates occupational safety regulations.

• If any defects are observed in a company’s occupational safety matters during the inspection, you must correct these within the timeline specified by the inspector. You can report the corrections you have made using the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s e-service.
• If you do not correct these defects, your company may be ordered to pay fines. If necessary, the inspector may also interrupt the work or completely prevent work that poses an immediate risk to life or health.

Kela can pay the employer

• compensation for the costs of preventive occupational health care and voluntary medical care when the conditions are met.
• partial daily sickness allowance when the employer has paid the employee full salary in accordance with their full-time work for the duration of part-time work.
• daily sickness allowance when the employer has paid the employee a salary for the period of absence after the waiting period for the daily sickness allowance.
• rehabilitation allowance when the employee is paid during the rehabilitation period. Rehabilitation allowance is available for the period of rehabilitation granted by Kela, occupational health care or a wellbeing services county.

More information:

• Compensation for occupational health care costs (in Finnish and Swedish) - KelaOpens in a new window.
• Partial daily sickness allowance for employers (in Finnish and Swedish) - KelaOpens in a new window.
• Daily sickness allowance for employers (in Finnish and Swedish) - KelaOpens in a new window.
• Rehabilitation allowance for employers (in Finnish and Swedish) - KelaOpens in a new window.

Employment services may pay the employer a subsidy for making adjustments to working conditions when the employee’s disability or illness requires new tools or furniture, alterations at the workplace or help at work from another employee.

The Employment Fund can pay employers training compensation if the training is based on a workplace training plan.

The Finnish Work Environment Fund supports innovative development in work communities with the help of an external expert. The projects may be related to the development of such matters as occupational safety, occupational health and work culture. The grant covers half of the expert’s fees and travel expenses. Applications for the development grant can be submitted on a continuous basis.

Application instructions: Development grant - Finnish Work Environment Fund (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.