A good working environment is important for both employers and employees.

It is a prerequisite for health, well-being and productivity. The Working Environment Act requires the employer to ensure a fully responsible working environment. The protection representative is the employees’ representative in this context.

The role of the protection officer

The health and safety representative must contribute to promoting and safeguarding the employees’ health, environment and safety in the business. The protection representative has, among other things, the right to:

• Stop hazardous work
• Get the necessary training (Minimum 40-hour course)
• Get set aside time to exercise your role as a safety representative

Employer’s responsibility

The employer must make arrangements for the safety representative to carry out his duties. This includes, among other things, to:

• provide the protection representative with the necessary expertise and information
• give the protection representative the necessary time and resources to carry out his duties
• respect the independence of the safety representative

Good cooperation is important

In order for the employer and safety representative to be able to work together well, it is important that they have a good understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.

Tips for a good collaboration

Here are some tips on how the employer and safety representative can work together well:

• Set aside time for good arenas for collaboration. The employer and safety representative should have regular meetings to discuss the working environment.
• Be open and honest with each other. It is important that the employer and safety representative have a trusting dialogue.
• Listen to each other’s points of view. It is important that the employer and safety representative respect each other’s roles and responsibilities.

Conclusion

Good cooperation between the employer and safety representative is a prerequisite for a good working environment. By working together, the employer and safety representative can contribute to creating a workplace where everyone is happy and safe.