When do you need an AMU committee?

Short answer

If the company has at least 30 employees who are regularly employed, it must have a working environment committee (arbeidsmiljøutvalg, AMU). With between 10 and 30, one must be set up if one of the parties demands it. The employer side and the employee side have the same number of representatives, and the committee should normally meet four times a year.

When must the company have an AMU?

Section 7-1 of the Norwegian Working Environment Act sets these limits:

At least 30 employees who are regularly employed: The company must have a working environment committee.
Between 10 and 30 employees: A committee must be set up if one of the parties at the business demands it.
Fewer than 30: The Labour Inspection Authority can decide that a committee must be set up where the working conditions call for it.
Fewer than 10: The Act mentions no duty to have a committee. Safety representatives apply instead. See the guide on safety representatives.

The count uses the average over the last calendar year, and the regulations count those who work at least 20 hours a week. Check section 3-7 of the Regulations on Organisation, Management and Employee Participation if you are near the limit.

Who sits on an AMU?

The same number of representatives from the employer side and the employee side.
The employer appoints its representatives. The person who runs the business, or someone from top management, must always be included.
The chief safety representative is a member with a vote. If there is only one safety representative, they must be included. The other employee representatives are elected by the employees.
The occupational health service is represented, but without a vote.
The chair is chosen alternately from the employer side and the employee side. If votes are tied, the chair’s vote decides.
The term is two years at a time.

The Labour Inspection Authority says a committee normally has six to eight members. That is guidance and not a legal requirement.

What does an AMU do?

The committee must work for a fully safe working environment and take part in planning the safety and environment work. It deals with, among other things, matters concerning the occupational health service, training, systematic HSE work and working time arrangements, and goes through reports on occupational illness, accidents and near misses. It can decide on specific measures. Every year the committee must report to the governing bodies and the employee organisations. It must also take part in an action plan for the safety and environment work, and see that new employees get training.

How often must an AMU meet?

The committee decides how often it meets, but should normally have four meetings a year. At least two members can demand a meeting. Minutes must be kept, and where there is a vote, the views of both the majority and the minority must be recorded. Put the meetings into the HSE annual plan so they are not forgotten.

Training of committee members

The rules on training of safety representatives apply equally to committee members. The employer must make sure the necessary training is given and cover the costs. According to the regulations the training must last at least 40 hours, but the parties can agree shorter training if they agree it is adequate.

If you do not have an AMU

Without a committee, the safety representative has some of the tasks the committee would otherwise have had, including giving opinions and going through reports on accidents. That is a reason to consider whether to set up a committee voluntarily before you reach 30 employees. See also the guide on HSE requirements.

How the portal helps

The HSE system has committee meetings, and the other HSE material a committee needs to see: deviations, safety inspections, risk analyses, statistics and the HSE annual plan. Tasks have an owner and a deadline.

Read about the HSE system

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.

When must a company have a working environment committee (AMU)?