2024 for the occupational safety and health authority – national enforcement based on working life phenomena

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new four-year framework period began in 2024. As in previous years, our activities focused on three phenomena in working life: working conditions, fair working life and psychosocial workload.

We targeted our activities at workplaces selected on the basis of a versatile analysis of the operating environment. We carried out a total of around 20,600 occupational safety and health inspections. In addition, we processed some 900 permits and received more than 45,700 notifications. Other influencing was used as an integral part of occupational safety and health enforcement.

We paid particular attention to vulnerable groups of workers. We strived to ensure that their working conditions are safe and healthy and that fair terms of employment are observed at workplaces. In this way, we prevented and reduced inequality among people. We also emphasised the importance of occupational health cooperation in occupational safety and health work at workplaces.

Key objectives achieved despite challenges

The state’s productivity programme also affected the occupational safety and health administration, and we had to examine our cost structure critically at the beginning of the year. Savings were made from recruitments and operating costs, and the personnel also participated voluntarily in mitigating costs.

Due to the measures to balance finances, it was also necessary to prioritise annual targets and streamline operating processes, without, of course, compromising the principles of fairness. Due to a rapid response, we achieved our key objectives despite these challenges.

Looking toward the regional government reform

Preparations for the upcoming regional administration reform began in 2024. In 2026, the Occupational Safety and Health Divisions of the Regional State Administrative Agencies will be transferred to the new Finnish Supervisory Agency along with the other operations of the Regional State Administrative Agencies. In the new agency,
an occupational safety and health department will be formed of all the occupational safety and health divisions.

The Occupational Safety and Health Divisions have been harmonising their operations for quite some time already. This has created a good basis for heading towards the upcoming Finnish Supervisory Agency. Occupational safety and health enforcement will continue throughout Finland in the same manner as before.

Read more about occupational safety and health enforcement in 2024 in the annual report and other reports:

• Annual Report of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Finland 2024 (in Finnish, will be published later in Swedish and English)
• Enforcement of the posting of workers and notifications of posting in 2024 (also in Finnish, will be published later in Swedish)
• Supervision of the use of foreign workers in 2024 (in Finnish, will be published later in Swedish and English)
• Enforcement of non-discrimination and prohibition of discrimination in employment in 2024 (to be published in May 2025)
• Client-initiated monitoring of harassment and workload in 2024 (to be published in May 2025)

Enquiries:
Hanna-Kaisa Rajala, Director, Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland, Occupational Safety and Health Division, tel. +358 295 016 134, [email protected]