When does a company need an occupational health service?

What is an occupational health service?

The occupational health service is an adviser with expertise in the working environment. It helps the employer and the employees prevent injury and illness related to work, and create a good working environment. It does not replace the employees’ GP, and it does not take over the employer’s responsibility for HSE.

Two routes to the duty

The risk in the company

Section 3-3 of the Norwegian Working Environment Act says the employer must connect the business to an occupational health service when the risks call for it. So it is the risk that decides. The assessment is made as part of the systematic HSE work, for example in the risk assessment. See the guide on risk assessment.

Industries that must always have one

Section 13-1 of the Regulations on Organisation, Management and Employee Participation lists industries that must always be connected to an occupational health service. We do not reproduce the list here, because it can change. Read it on Lovdata (in Norwegian).

Does the service have to be approved?

Yes. Under section 3-3 of the Working Environment Act, the occupational health service must be approved by the Labour Inspection Authority. So always ask whether the provider is approved before you sign an agreement.

What should an agreement include?

A good agreement makes it clear what the service will do for your company. Ask the provider about:

• What the service will help with in the coming year, and how it will be planned.
• Who your contact person is, and what expertise they have.
• How you report and follow up on what has been done.
• What is included, and what costs extra.

What does it cost?

The price varies between providers and with how much help the company needs. Ask for a written quote that shows what is included.

How to choose

1. Find out whether you are required to have an occupational health service, or whether the risks call for one.
2. Check that the provider is approved by the Labour Inspection Authority.
3. Ask for a plan of what the service will do for you.
4. Compare the content, not just the price.

Would you like to hear from us when our occupational health service is ready? Register interest.

How the portal helps

The occupational health service from Flexikompetanse is coming soon. The portal will keep the agreement, the meetings and the documents in the same place as the HSE system. Until then, you can use the HSE system for risk assessments, deviations and safety inspections.

Read about our occupational health service (coming soon)

Sources

The rules change. Always check the current text with the sources below. Most sources are in Norwegian. This guide is general information and not legal advice.

• Working Environment Act section 3-3 on occupational health services (Lovdata, Norwegian)
• Regulations on Organisation, Management and Employee Participation section 13-1 on the duty to have an occupational health service (Lovdata, Norwegian)
• Regulations on Organisation, Management and Employee Participation (Lovdata, Norwegian)
• Risk assessment (Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, Norwegian)