A safety representative must be able to identify problems, ask the right questions, and ensure that the work environment is safe. Therefore, safety representatives and members of the work environment committee need training that provides both an understanding of their roles and practical working methods.
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New to the role of safety representative? Here's what you should know about the role and the election
What does a safety representative do?
The safety representative represents employees in matters related to the work environment. This involves identifying risks, raising issues with the employer, and contributing to effective measures. The employer remains responsible for ensuring that the work environment is safe.
Who can serve as a safety representative?
The safety representative is elected from among the employees. The employer, or the person managing the business on the employer’s behalf, is not eligible for election. Feel free to elect a colleague who is familiar with the job duties and is trusted by the other employees.
How is the safety representative elected?
Employees normally elect safety representatives by majority vote. Local unions may also appoint safety representatives when the rules allow for it. The term of office is two years. After the election, the employer must provide the necessary training as soon as possible.
See the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority’s guidelines on the role and selection of safety representatives. Below, we explain the general rule regarding 40 hours of training and how the course can be taken online.
Why is the standard 40 hours?
The training is intended to enable the safety representative to perform their duties in a responsible manner. It must therefore cover more than just general HSE principles. The safety representative must understand their role, the employer’s responsibilities, employee participation, risk assessment, the right to halt work, safety inspections, nonconformities, and how workplace safety issues are followed up.
The Regulations on Organization, Management, and Employee Participation establish 40 hours as the minimum requirement. The training may be longer if the enterprise’s risk profile and workplace issues so require.
When can the training be shorter?
Shorter training is not a decision an employer can make alone. The employer and the employees must jointly determine that shorter training is justifiable based on the nature and scope of the problems. This assessment should be specific and documented. Unpredictable operations, physical risks, shift work, chemicals, machinery, on-site work at a customer’s location, or complex organizational structures often justify maintaining the 40-hour training program.
What should safety representative training include?
- The safety representative's role, duties, rights, and right to halt work
- cooperation with the employer, employees, employee representatives, the Working Environment Committee (AMU), and the Occupational Health Service (BHT)
- internal control, assessment, risk assessment, and action plan
- safety inspections, nonconformities, accidents, and near-misses
- physical, organizational, and psychosocial work environment
- Hiring, Coordination, Changes, and Emergency Preparedness
- how cases are prepared, taken up, and followed up until they are closed
Safety Representatives and the Psychosocial Work Environment: What Do You Do in Practice?
The safety representative’s work also involves addressing how people are doing at work. High work pressure, unclear expectations, a lack of support, and harassment can affect both health and safety. The employer is responsible for ensuring a safe working environment; the safety representative must be involved in preventive efforts.
- Listen and assess: Address workplace issues that your colleagues are experiencing, such as having more tasks than there is time to complete.
- Take the matter further: Contribute when your employer assesses risks and selects measures. Clearer priorities, support, and a better division of labor may be appropriate measures.
- Follow up: Work with your employer and employees to determine whether the measures are effective.
The safety representative is responsible for safeguarding the work environment for everyone; they do not assume the employer’s responsibilities or automatically act as a representative of either party in a personnel matter. Read the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority’s guidance on the psychosocial work environment and the role of the safety representative.
Do you need basic training for your position? Review the content and structure of the 40-hour safety representative course.
Can the 40-hour course be taken online?
Yes. Online training makes it possible to spread the course over several days or weeks and pick up where you left off. The important thing is that the course is of sufficient duration, has relevant content, and incorporates active learning methods. Komplett HMS tracks course time in the portal and uses scenarios and knowledge checks along the way.
What will participants receive after the course?
Once 40 hours have been logged and the knowledge test has been passed, the participant will receive a digital course certificate. Optional local exercises are intended for personal practice but should not be submitted to Komplett HMS and do not count toward registered course hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for the training?
The employer must provide the training and cover the costs. The training should normally take place during working hours.
Does the course need to be renewed?
There is no general, fixed expiration date, but the employer must ensure that the training is up to date whenever the role, the risk, or the regulations change.
Does the course also apply to AMU?
Yes. The 40-hour course is designed for safety representatives, chief safety representatives, and members of the working environment committee.
See the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority’s updated guidance on safety representatives and training.
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