Permits

There are certain kinds of work specified in legislation the performing of which requires an authorisation issued by the occupational safety and health authority or a specific qualification. Such work includes asbestos dismantling, use of explosives (charger’s certificate) and underwater construction.

The exemptions from regular working hours as well as daily rest period, period-based working hours, night work and release from the obligation to keep a shift roster are are applied to the occupational safety and health authority.

Also, the occupational safety and health authority may grant permission for certain kinds of work for young workers.

Before the occupational safety and health authority issues a decision on an exemption, the applicant employer must provide the shop steward or personnel representative concerned an opportunity to be heard in the matter, either in person or in writing. If there is no shop steward or personnel representative at the workplace, this hearing must be given to the occupational safety and health representative. If there is no occupational safety and health representative, every employee whom the exemption will concern must be given a hearing.

Notifications

A notification must be submitted to the occupational safety and health authority before work begins in the case of construction work, asbestos demolition work and hazardous work involving employees aged 16–17.

Emergency work also requires a notification, which must be submitted after the fact but without undue delay.

The occupational safety and health authority must similarly be notified without delay of the occurrence of a serious occupational accident.

The employer must maintain a register as relevant of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances and processes in their jobs (known as an ‘ASA register’). An ASA notification for each year must be submitted to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (not the occupational safety and health authority) by 31 March in the following year.