Who needs a safety representative?
All businesses must have a safety representative. A business with fewer than five employees can agree in writing on another arrangement (Working Environment Act § 6-1, safety representatives (Lovdata, Norwegian)). A business with at least 30 employees must have a working environment committee, AMU (Working Environment Act § 7-1, working environment committee (Lovdata, Norwegian)).
What the training must cover
The training must cover the topics in Regulations on organisation, management and employee participation § 3-18 (Lovdata, Norwegian): roles and responsibilities, systematic health and safety work, simple risk assessment, the psychosocial and organisational working environment, the physical working environment, and an introduction to the Working Environment Act. If the workplace uses chemicals or biological material, the training must also cover the health risks. You must also get training in what matters most at your own workplace.
There is no public approval scheme for these courses, and the regulations do not say which language the training must be in. What matters is that the content covers § 3-18 and that the length follows § 3-19.
40 hours or shorter
The training must last at least 40 hours. Shorter training can be agreed if the parties together find that it is sound, given how large and what kind of working environment problems the business has (Same regulations § 3-19, length of the training (Lovdata, Norwegian)).
- Both parties must agree. The manager cannot decide on shorter training alone.
- It must be sound. Dangerous work, chemicals, working alone, violence and threats or heavy lifting often mean more training.
- Write it down. Arbeidstilsynet says the assessment should be in writing and made by the employer and the employees together.
- If you do not agree, 40 hours applies.
Who pays, and when
The employer pays. The training should be given as soon as possible after the election, preferably in working hours. If it takes place in your free time, you get ordinary pay for the time, but not overtime pay (Same regulations § 3-20, timing and costs (Lovdata, Norwegian)). You never pay yourself.
Key Norwegian terms
| Norwegian | English |
|---|---|
| verneombud | safety representative |
| hovedverneombud | senior safety representative |
| arbeidsmiljøutvalg (AMU) | working environment committee |
| HMS (helse, miljø og sikkerhet) | health, safety and environment |
| risikovurdering | risk assessment |
| vernerunde | safety inspection round |
| avvik | non-conformity, deviation |
| arbeidsmiljøloven | the Working Environment Act |
| Arbeidstilsynet | the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority |
| bedriftshelsetjeneste (BHT) | occupational health service |
How the Kurs.ing course helps
Kurs.ing is a private online course in Norwegian. You can turn on English help text in the lessons and the practice questions. The course covers the topics in § 3-18, first paragraph, in eight lessons and takes about 7 hours, with tasks you do at your own workplace. It is not 40 hours: it fits where you have agreed on shorter training, or as one part of a 40-hour plan. A template for the agreement on shorter training (in Norwegian) is included. When you have finished, you can create a course record (kursbevis) on Min side. It is not a public approval.
Verneombud og AMU costs NOK 397 with 8 weeks' access. Volume discounts apply when you buy for several participants.
More guides in English
Sources
- Working Environment Act § 6-1, safety representatives (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Working Environment Act § 7-1, working environment committee (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Regulations on organisation, management and employee participation § 3-18 (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Same regulations § 3-19, length of the training (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Same regulations § 3-20, timing and costs (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Arbeidstilsynet: safety representative (Norwegian)
Important: Kurs.ing is a private course provider, not affiliated with Arbeidstilsynet. The Norwegian law text is authoritative. Always check the current rules on Lovdata and Arbeidstilsynet's pages.