Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH)
In Finland the MSAH is responsible for preparing legislation on occupational safety and health care, and policy development on occupational safety and health and wellbeing at work. The ministry also deals with issues relating to equality and balancing working life and family life. One of the MSAH's strategic aims is to promote safe and healthy working conditions and workability for everyone. An important goal is to lengthen working careers at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the working career. Improving people’s ability, willingness and possibilities to work is a key condition for extending careers. The MSAH has published policy for the work environment and wellbeing at work until 2030. This policy aims at fostering healthy and safe work at all workplaces regardless of the form of employment. To learn more about the policy please visit: http://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/161451 or click at the picture to left |
By clicking on the image below you will access the Finnish Policy for the work environgment and wellbeing at work until 2030
|
Young workers
In Finland a young worker is an employee who is under 18 years of age. A young worker’s employment must not be hazardous to his/her health or development or hinder school attendance. A young worker must be provided with particularly careful guidance and supervision.
When a young person takes part in work based learning it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that the work does not require more exertion or responsibility than can be considered reasonable with respect to the young worker's age and strength. The employer must always provide particularly careful guidance and induction training for young workers.
Young workers aged under 16 must not be assigned to perform hazardous work, not even under supervision. Work is considered hazardous for a young worker if it is such that in it a young worker himself/herself or, through his/her job duties, another person may be at particular risk of an accident or loss of health. The employer must consult the occupational health care service in evaluating health hazards for young workers caused by the work itself and working circumstances in especially harmful and hazardous work.
A young person doing his work based learning may perform hazardous work that is necessary as part of his/her education, if that work is performed under the direction and immediate supervision of a work mentor. It must be possible to perform the work safely. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring that the tools and protective equipment are suitable and safe for the young worker to use Before the hazardous work is initiated, the appropriate Occupational Safety and Health authority must be notified. The prior notice must be submitted to the OSH Division at the Regional State Administrative Agency of the workplace. The prior notice shall be submitted by the organizer of the vocational education together with the employer when the hazardous duty is performed during the vocational education, for example during a period of on-the-job-training. However, organizers of basic education have no liability to make a prior notice. The notice to the OSH authority must be completed when the conditions affecting the safety change substantially. Moreover; the teacher responsible for work based learning shall inform the guardian of a young worker about the hazardous work and the grounds for it in advance
In Finland a young worker is an employee who is under 18 years of age. A young worker’s employment must not be hazardous to his/her health or development or hinder school attendance. A young worker must be provided with particularly careful guidance and supervision.
When a young person takes part in work based learning it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that the work does not require more exertion or responsibility than can be considered reasonable with respect to the young worker's age and strength. The employer must always provide particularly careful guidance and induction training for young workers.
Young workers aged under 16 must not be assigned to perform hazardous work, not even under supervision. Work is considered hazardous for a young worker if it is such that in it a young worker himself/herself or, through his/her job duties, another person may be at particular risk of an accident or loss of health. The employer must consult the occupational health care service in evaluating health hazards for young workers caused by the work itself and working circumstances in especially harmful and hazardous work.
A young person doing his work based learning may perform hazardous work that is necessary as part of his/her education, if that work is performed under the direction and immediate supervision of a work mentor. It must be possible to perform the work safely. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring that the tools and protective equipment are suitable and safe for the young worker to use Before the hazardous work is initiated, the appropriate Occupational Safety and Health authority must be notified. The prior notice must be submitted to the OSH Division at the Regional State Administrative Agency of the workplace. The prior notice shall be submitted by the organizer of the vocational education together with the employer when the hazardous duty is performed during the vocational education, for example during a period of on-the-job-training. However, organizers of basic education have no liability to make a prior notice. The notice to the OSH authority must be completed when the conditions affecting the safety change substantially. Moreover; the teacher responsible for work based learning shall inform the guardian of a young worker about the hazardous work and the grounds for it in advance
Legislation relating to work safety
Finland has extensive legislation on promoting the safety and health of employees and students doing work based learning. Below is a list with links to the legislation connected to work safety and work based learning:
2017/531: Act on vocational education (only available in Finnish and Swedish)
1993/1431: The ministry of Economic Affaires and Employments resolution about suitable light work for youngsters
2012/188: Regulation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on a list of examples of hazardous work for young workers (only available in Finnish and Swedish)
2006/477: The Government Decree on Work Especially Harmful and Hazardous to Young Workers
2002/738: Occupational Safety and Health Act
1993/998: Young Workers Act
2009/2015: Government Decree on the safety of construction work
1993/1431: The ministry of Economic Affaires and Employments resolution about suitable light work for youngsters
2012/188: Regulation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on a list of examples of hazardous work for young workers (only available in Finnish and Swedish)
2006/477: The Government Decree on Work Especially Harmful and Hazardous to Young Workers
2002/738: Occupational Safety and Health Act
1993/998: Young Workers Act
2009/2015: Government Decree on the safety of construction work
Note that in Finland, you must wear a photo ID that also displays your tax number. Your employer must acquire a photo ID for you