The employer is responsible for occupational safety and health measures at the workplace. At the workplace you can turn to the occupational safety delegate representing employees or the safety supervisor representing the employer, in questions regarding occupational safety and health.

Pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the employer's responsibilities include such as:

• taking any necessary measures to safeguard the safety and health of the employees at work
• taking into account aspects relevant to the work, working conditions and the other working environment as well as the individual capabilities of the employee
• giving their employees induction training in the conditions at the workplace, the correct working methods and safety regulations.

An attempt shall already be made to ensure safety when planning the work and working facilities. In addition, risks and hazards in the working environment must be continuously monitored and if necessary, measures must be taken to pinpoint and prevent accidents, health hazards and other hazardous situations.

In hired labour  the responsibility for the occupational safety of a hired employee rests with the employer of the hired employee and the party having the hired labour work performed (user  company).

The employer also has the duty to organise at their cost occupational health care for their workers and to insure the workers against accidents at work.

The employee, too, has duties in occupational safety and health matters, even if the primary responsibility rests with the employer. The employee's duties include:

• co-operating in the maintenance and improvement of occupational safety and health at the workplace;
• avoiding harassment and other inappropriate treatment of other employees;
• complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations based on it issued by the employer;
• following safety and protection instructions as issued during training and in instructions (machines, equipment, handling chemicals) to avoid putting themselves and other employees at risk in course of the work;
• being orderly and clean;
• using protective devices and equipment as ordered to prevent accidents or health hazards;
• as far as possible, eliminating any faults and deficiencies observed by them resulting in obvious danger;
• notifying the supervisor and occupational safety and health officer of any deficiencies in the protective devices, machinery, equipment or tools;
• wearing clothes not exposing them to a risk of accident;
• refraining from removing or spoiling devices and instruction or warning labels intended to prevent accidents or a risk of illness;
• taking part in medical examinations pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act conducted to evaluate their capacity to work both before the start of and during the employment relationship;
• in case the work causes a serious risk to the employee's own or another employee's life or health, the employee has the right to refuse to perform such work.

Supervising occupational safety and health legislation is the duty of the occupational safety and health authorities.

More information on occupational safety and health is available via the Occupational Safety and Health Authorities, trade unions and the Occupational safety and health databank on the Internet.