Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Norway (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes the report of the Government received on 29 August 2014 and the observations of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) included in the Government’s report and also received separately on 8 September 2014.

Article 4 of the Convention. National policy. The Committee noted, in its previous comments, the observations by the LO recognizing the extensive legislation regulating occupational safety and health (OSH) matters in the country, but questioning whether this reflected a coherent national OSH policy covering both workplaces under the authority of the labour inspectorate (LI) and those under the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA). The Committee notes from the Government’s current report that the LI has informed the PSA about possible changes and improvements with the legislative regulation regarding occupational safety and health. Regulatory work is being implemented by the PSA and plans have been exchanged with the LI. The Committee also notes from the Government’s report that there is an ongoing dialogue between the LI and the PSA. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the possible changes in the legislative regulation regarding occupational safety and health, as well as any improvements in the coherence of the national OSH policy resulting from the dialogue between the LI and the PSA.

Application of the Convention in practice. Statistical information. The Committee notes that the Government reiterates that although reporting on work related diseases to the LI is obligatory, according to the Work Environment Act (WEA), less than 5 per cent of Norwegian medical practitioners report work-related diseases to the LI and, as a consequence, the figures of work-related diseases reported by the Government to the ILO are not reliable. The Committee also notes that the LO continues to express concern in this regard. The LO indicates in particular that it is very much concerned over the statistical underreporting of diseases caused by exposure to chemicals.

The Committee further notes that the LI Authority has a registry for fatal occupational accidents in the land-based sectors and that, there has been an average number of 43 fatal injuries registered in the last ten years. The Committee notes the information that the registry for occupational accidents has been dismantled and that Statistics Norway, responsible for the new registry, will report data from the system in 2015, which will comply with Eurostat regulations. The information from the new registry could be used to identify all cases of accidents at work that are reported to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (NAV). Finally, the Committee notes that the Department of Occupational Health Surveillance (NOA) and the National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI) also coordinate, systemize and disseminate knowledge about the working environment and health, with a surveillance system primarily targeting work-related injuries, illness, disability and premature death. Noting once again the reported shortcomings and discrepancies in the data that has been made available, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged, to address the inaccurate reporting of cases of work-related diseases to the LI, as well as the concerns raised by the LO. It invites the Government to strengthen its efforts to raise awareness of medical practitioners of this obligation to report on work-related diseases. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the new registry by Statistics Norway regarding cases of accidents at work and to supply statistical information on occupational accidents and diseases, indicating the trends and the main problems encountered, in the various sectors of activity.