Työturvallisuuslaki

Työturvallisuuslaki, known in English as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, is Finland’s principal statute governing safety and health at work. It sets the framework for how workplaces must manage risks to employees’ safety and well-being and guides the responsibilities of employers, employees, and other parties involved in work activities.

Scope and purpose

The act applies to workplaces across the private and public sectors and covers all kinds of employment relationships and tasks. Its aim is to prevent accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases by creating safe and healthy working conditions and ensuring that safety is integrated into day-to-day operations.

Employer duties

Employers are required to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, conduct systematic risk assessments, and plan and implement preventive measures. They must provide appropriate information, instruction, and training to employees, ensure supervision where needed, and arrange for adequate safety resources. In larger or higher-risk workplaces, the act often requires the appointment of a person responsible for occupational safety and, where applicable, the establishment of safety representatives or a safety committee.

Employee rights and duties

Employees have the right to participate in safety arrangements, raise concerns about hazards, and use required protective equipment. They must follow safety instructions and cooperate with employers in safety efforts.

Risk management and reporting

A core element of the act is risk assessment—identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing measures to eliminate or control them. Accidents and near-misses are typically reported to the designated authorities, and corrective actions must be taken as part of ongoing safety management.

Enforcement and context

The act is enforced by relevant authorities, and violations can lead to penalties or orders to remedy unsafe conditions. It operates within Finland’s broader health and safety framework and aligns with EU occupational safety directives.