Occupational safety and wellbeing at work
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health drafts legislation on occupational safety, defines the objectives of occupational safety and health enforcement and develops the national guidelines and policies for the work environment and wellbeing at work. In addition, the Ministry is responsible for international cooperation related to occupational safety and wellbeing at work.
Occupational safety and wellbeing at work refer to a broad understanding of safety and wellbeing at the workplace and the related practices, culture and legislation. Occupational safety and wellbeing at work entail measures to ensure the physical, mental and social safety, health and wellbeing of employees. The aim is to reduce accidents, injuries and work-related diseases and to strengthen the resources that promote work performance and thus help employees and workplaces to reach their goals.
Occupational safety and health form a strong foundation for wellbeing at work. Compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Occupational Healthcare Act at workplaces prevents hazards and risks to the health of employees and makes it possible to achieve the basics of wellbeing at work. Compliance with other legislation related to working life also strengthens the foundation of wellbeing at work.
It is in the interests of all workplaces to ensure good occupational safety and health and wellbeing at work. These increase the attractiveness of work and help people perform well in their work.
With regard to wellbeing at work, the key issues are:
- operating and management practices at the workplace
- professional skills and competence
- meaningful work content
- functioning of the workplace
- opportunities to exert influence and participate as well as opportunities for training
- state of health and work ability of employees and
- opportunities to reconcile work and family life.
Working together to ensure occupational safety and health and wellbeing at work
Under the Finnish Constitution, public authorities are responsible for the protection of labour force. According to Occupational Safety and Health Act employers have a duty to take care of the safety and health of their employees while at work by taking the necessary measures. Employers and employees shall cooperate in maintaining and improving safety in workplaces.
Every workplace must see to the assessment and management of risks. It is also important that workplaces and occupational health services cooperate in the field of occupational health to promote and support the work ability of employees.
A good and healthy work environment promotes the wellbeing of employees
Work may also serve as a resource. Trust, cooperation, a high level of competence of employees and making full use of their skills at workplaces are among the strengths of Finnish working life that lay a good foundation for wellbeing at work.
The development work carried out at workplaces is valuable
The results of the development work have been recorded, for example, in the case studies of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work concerning the development of occupational safety and in the outcomes of the European Social Fund projects on the development of wellbeing at work.
The Programme of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government contains a set of working life programmes to support workplaces and develop the service system.
- The WORK 2030 programme also develops wellbeing at work and productivity by, among other things, promoting good leadership and disseminating best practices, such as the dialogue on the future, to workplaces and sectors.
- The Mental Health at Work Programme helps to disseminate the model of occupational health cooperation and the Mental Health Toolkit intended for workplaces. The aim is to reduce sick leaves due to mental health reasons.
- The purpose of the work ability programme is to improve people’s ability to cope at work and reduce disability pensions, with due consideration for older people.