The Health and Safety Organisation
Achieve better results with an effective health and safety strategy
The main purpose of the health and safety organisation is to ensure that your company works systematically to improve the working environment, so all employees can return home healthy and safe – every day, throughout their working lives.
A well-functioning health and safety organisation is an investment that truly pays off, benefitting both individual employees and your company as a whole. Significantly lower sickness absence, increased motivation among staff, and an enhanced focus on your customers and daily operations are just some of the advantages you can achieve. However, doubling your spending on the health and safety organisation does not necessarily result in double the quality of your working environment. Therefore, how the organisation is structured and how your activities are prioritised is essential. At Human House, we are ready to help your workplace gain the greatest possible benefit from your health and safety organisation.
When is health and safety training required by law?
According to Danish law, all companies with more than 10 employees are required to have a health and safety organisation. If your company has fewer than 10 employees, there is no legal obligation to establish a health and safety organisation. Nevertheless, as an employer, you are always required to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff – both physically and mentally. On construction sites, there is also a legal requirement to establish a health and safety organisation if five or more employees from the same company are working on site for at least 14 days.
Companies with 10–34 employees
If your company has 10-34 employees, you must establish a health and safety organisation, consisting of one or more line managers and one or more elected health and safety representatives, with the employer or their representative acting as chair. The health and safety organisation is responsible for both strategic, overarching tasks and the daily, operational activities.
Companies with more than 35 employees
If your company has more than 35 employees, a health and safety organisation must be established consisting of one or more health and safety groups and one or more health and safety committees.
A health and safety group comprises a line manager and a health and safety representative. A health and safety committee is made up of line managers and health and safety representatives from one or more health and safety groups, with the employer or their representative as chair.
What are the requirements for the health and safety organisation?
As a health and safety representative or member of the health and safety organisation, you are required to complete the statutory health and safety training within three months of being elected or appointed. Human House offers health and safety training courses throughout Denmark. Read more about upcoming courses here.
As a health and safety representative, you are entitled to two full days of supplementary health and safety training during your first year as a member of the organisation. For the remainder of your term, you must be offered 1.5 days of additional training every year. These courses are chosen according to your company’s needs. Read more about supplementary health and safety training here.
What does the health and safety organisation do?
The tasks of the health and safety organisation can broadly be divided into two levels: the strategic and the operational.
Strategic health and safety work
The strategic work is managed by the health and safety committee, which serves as the organisation’s highest decision-making body. The committee is responsible for ensuring an overall plan for health and safety initiatives across the company, as well as for coordinating and facilitating collaboration between the various groups. The committee also defines the company’s health and safety policies, manages the annual review, and plans and coordinates the workplace assessment.
Operational health and safety work
Operational activities are handled by health and safety groups. They monitor and ensure daily safety and wellbeing, and are also responsible for sharing knowledge about health and safety initiatives throughout the company.
How to create a well-functioning health and safety organisation
Create a clear structure
The health and safety organisation should be structured so it can handle all types of health and safety challenges – regardless of business area or company type.
Communicate and share knowledge widely
Share information on occupational health and safety challenges with all relevant employees, so everyone is informed and can contribute to solutions.
Integrate into the company's annual cycle
Schedule health and safety efforts so they align with other business activities such as strategy and budget processes.
Ensure competence and motivation
Equip the members of the health and safety organisation with the necessary knowledge, motivation, and time to perform their tasks effectively.
The annual health and safety review
Regardless of your company’s size, you must ensure that the health and safety review is carried out at least once a year. If you do not have the resources to conduct it yourself, we can do it for you. We take care of all preparations, facilitate the review itself, and manage all administrative tasks – including the minutes.
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