Mandatory Training in Work Environment – 40 Hours
The course meets the requirements of the Working Environment Act for the training of HSE-reps. and members of the working environment committee (AMU).
However, managers, HR/HSE advisors, union representatives, and employees can also greatly benefit from the training.
The safety representative, or the health-, safety- and environmentrepresentative (HSE-rep.) as we would call it, is responsible for safeguarding employees' interests regarding the work environment, as stated in the Working Environment Act, Chapter 6. The training for HSE-rep. and members of the working environment committee must be at least 40 hours long (Regulations on Organization, Management, and Participation). A shorter training period may be agreed upon if the parties collectively determine that it is justifiable based on an assessment of the nature and extent of the issues. If the parties cannot agree, the legal requirement of 40 hours must be fulfilled.
About the Course
The course meets the requirements of the Working Environment Act for the training of HSE-reps. and members of the working environment committee (AMU). However, managers, HR/HSE advisors, union representatives, and employees can also greatly benefit from the training.
The course provides a thorough introduction to health, environment, and safety (HSE) work, both for the organization and the individual employee. The goal is to contribute to the development of the work environment at the participants’ workplaces. A good work environment is a key factor in reducing absenteeism. Research also shows that a positive work environment leads to more efficient and resilient employees.
Arbeidsmiljøsenteret recommends that managers and HSE-reps. take the course together. The course requires active participation and encourages discussions and the use of participants’ own experiences.
Course Content
The course emphasizes dialogue, training, reflection, and active use of participants’ experiences.
For some organizations, we arrange a four-day training session in collaboration with them. The organization itself may dedicate an additional day for reviewing its own HSE system and procedures.
The course content aligns with the Regulations on Organization, Management, and Participation, §3-18:
HSE-reps. and members of the working environment committee must receive the necessary training to perform their duties responsibly, as stated in the Working Environment Act § 6-5 (1) and § 7-4. The training must:
- Provide participants with an understanding of what constitutes a fully responsible work environment at their workplace, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the employer, employees, the working environment committee, safety representatives, occupational health services, and the Labor Inspection Authority.
- Equip participants with knowledge about ongoing HSE work based on broad involvement, proper documentation, and systematic procedures.
- Enable participants to conduct basic risk assessments of physical, psychosocial, and organizational factors in the work environment.
- Help participants identify factors that promote or hinder a positive psychosocial and organizational work environment in their organization.
- Enable participants to recognize key physical work environment factors at their workplace to reduce and prevent injuries and accidents, including ergonomics, noise, and indoor climate.
- Provide an introduction and overview of the Working Environment Act and other relevant laws and regulations.
If chemical substances or biological materials as mentioned in § 4-5 of the Working Environment Act are used, training must include information on the health hazards these substances may pose.
Additional training should be provided on topics specifically relevant to the work environment in the given organization, as needed for safety representatives and working environment committee members to fulfill their roles properly.
Furthermore, specialized training should be provided for safety representatives in areas with particularly complex work environment challenges. The chief safety representative must receive at least the same training as other safety representatives in the organization, in addition to any necessary training required to fulfill their duties under § 3-5 of the regulations.