Læsetid 2 min
As a starting point, you must think of The Health and Safety Assessment as an important project every three years. This is what the legislation says, but there are also other instances that you have to take into account.
The legislative guidelines
Clear rules have been drawn up by the Working Environment Authority in relation to how often The Health and Safety Assessment must be carried out. According to the Danish Working Environment Authority’s executive order no. 1234 of 29 October 2018. Chapter 2a – § 6 b, subsection 4.
“A health and safety assessment must be updated when there are changes in the work, working methods and work processes, etc., which have an impact on the company’s working environment, but no later than every three years.”
And what exactly does this paragraph mean? This means that, as a rule, The Health and Safety Assessment must be carried out every three years – as a minimum. It cannot be avoided. But… If there have been any radical changes in the workplace in the meantime, then every three years is not quite enough.
- Have you introduced hybrid workplaces where employees are allowed to work more at home?
- Have you moved into new premises recently?
- Have you optimized work processes and working methods so that they have undergone a relatively large change for the employees?
Well, then the company is qualified to carry out a workplace assessment subsequently according to the legislation. And there is a pretty good chance that right now you are in a company that has just undergone a few significant changes in recent years. The post-corona era means a completely new approach to the hybrid workplace, where many employees and companies have now seen the value in working at home a few days a week. A great value. But also an agency that changes the workplace and that the working environment and well-being can be exposed to different and new forms of challenges and problems. It is important for the company and not least the working environment that these problems are discovered, analyzed and dealt with at an early stage – which the Workplace Assessment can help to ensure.
But how active are they in the Working Environment Authority?
I know you’ve had the thought. “What if we don’t get a handle on that Health and Safety Assessment – And the Working Environment Authority comes by?”
Firstly, you must know that it will ONLY benefit you and the company on all imaginable fronts when you think of The Health and Safety Assessment as a value and a gift for everyone. Having said that, the mentioned thought is completely normal and natural, since the workplace assessment IS a big mouthful and a time-consuming task. Especially if you choose to run it manually – and without a digital solution.
So, let’s – together with that thought – take a closer look at how likely it is that the Working Environment Authority would pass by.
In 2022, the Danish Working Environment Authority will have carried out 30,650 inspections in Danish companies. Among these are 25,058 inspections at companies, while 5,592 inspections are at construction sites. Out of the 30,650 inspections, the Danish Working Environment Authority has issued 17,671 recommendations on missing workplace assessments or problems with the working environment. Out of these, there have been 13,222 decisions. So yes. The Danish Working Environment Authority is an active agency that takes its task seriously. To ensure a good, safe and secure working environment in Danish companies.
And what happens if you receive a recommendation or decision?
Initially, this will mean that you will receive an explanation and a recommendation to obtain what is necessary in relation to a workplace assessment. So you get a chance to correct what is missing. And again, you must see the workplace assessment as much more than an extra resource-demanding task on the desktop. And, if you still don’t take advantage of the chance and get The Health and Safety Assessment done, there will be risks of definite fines.
So, yes, there are probably countless good reasons to have The Health and Safety Assessment done – and to use the results as best as possible in the company. And not everything has to be blamed on the unfortunate tendency to stress. Because well-being is much more than just that. Well-being is personal well-being, good self-esteem and job satisfaction. The individual employee spends so much time of his life at the workplace, so it goes without saying that the individual must thrive in order for both work, health and personal life to function optimally – and in their entirety.
So, a conclusion in relation to this blog post’s primary question – ‘The Health and Safety Assessment – how often?’, the statutory minimum is every three years or when there are significant changes in work processes, work location or something like that. And one more important point – see The Health and Safety Assessment as a powerful and necessary tool to create well-being and happy, healthy employees. It will enhance both the company’s branding and financial bottom line.
