arbeidsmiljøarbetsmiljö

Arbeidsmiljø (Norwegian) and arbetsmiljö (Swedish) denote the work environment, namely the conditions under which people work and how these conditions affect health, safety and well-being. The term covers physical, social, and organizational aspects and is central to occupational health in both countries.

In Norway, the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven) assigns employers and employees the responsibility to create a safe and healthy workplace. The law requires systematic work environment management, risk assessment, preventive measures, and information and training for staff. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) enforces compliance and can issue notices or sanctions.

In Sweden, the Work Environment Act (Arbetsmiljölagen) outlines duties to prevent ill health and accidents, with the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) supervising compliance. Employers must perform risk assessments, implement corrective measures, involve employees, and provide training and resources for safety.

Key components include physical factors such as noise, ventilation, lighting and ergonomics; psychosocial factors such as workload, control, leadership, and harassment; and organizational factors such as work hours and safety culture. Effective management relies on systematic hazard identification, ongoing improvements, health surveillance when needed, and collaboration with occupational health services.

A well-managed arbetsmiljö/arbet miljö can reduce sickness absence, improve productivity, and support overall well-being. Challenges include resource constraints for small firms, balancing production goals with protection, and keeping compliance up to date across sectors and over time.