According to Norwegian working environment legislation, everyone has a duty to contribute to a good and safe working environment.

What is an HSE system?

An HSE system is the description of, and the tools for, working systematically with health, environment and safety (HSE). It should help to prevent unwanted incidents and injuries, and to promote a good and safe working environment.

An HSE system must contain the following elements:

• Overview of requirements
• Distribution of responsibilities
• Knowledge and skills
• Risk assessment
• Goals and measures
• Documentation
• Systematic monitoring

Employee’s duties

Employees’ duties in HSE work are described in the Working Environment Act § 2-2. The employee must:

• Contribute to creating a good and safe working environment.
• Use the protective equipment that the employer has deemed necessary.
• Show care and otherwise help prevent accidents and health damage.

Employees also have a number of concrete duties, including:

• Notify the employer and health and safety representatives when they discover errors or deficiencies that could cause danger to life or health.
• Interrupt the work if they believe that continuing may cause danger to life or health.

The role of the protection officer

The health and safety representative is elected by the employees, and must represent the employees in HSE work. The Protection Commissioner has a number of duties and rights, including:

• To participate in the planning of the HSE work in the business.
• To follow the development of the working environment.
• To point out risk conditions and assist in finding measures to improve the working environment.
• To stop hazardous work.

The role of the Working Environment Committee

The Working Environment Committee is a collaborative body between employers and employees. The committee must deal with issues relating to HSE work in the business. The Working Environment Committee has a number of tasks, including:

• To deal with matters relating to HSE work in the business.
• To provide input into the employer’s HSE work.
• To follow the development of the working environment.

The role of the occupational health service

The occupational health service is a service that will contribute to promoting and safeguarding employees’ health, welfare and safety. The occupational health service has a number of tasks, including:

• To give advice and guidance to employers and employees on HSE, in accordance with requirements in law and regulations.
• To carry out health examinations of the employees, where the risk assessment shows that this is necessary.
• To follow the development of the working environment.
• Cooperation on HSE

In order to create a good and safe working environment, it is important that everyone in the business cooperates. The employer has the main responsibility, but employees, safety representatives, working environment committees and the occupational health service also have important roles.