Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2024, publiée 113ème session CIT (2025)

Norvège

Convention (n° 155) sur la sécurité et la santé des travailleurs, 1981 (Ratification: 1982)
Convention (n° 187) sur le cadre promotionnel pour la sécurité et la santé au travail, 2006 (Ratification: 2015)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on occupational safety and health (OSH) under examination this year, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions 155 (OSH) and 187 (promotional framework for OSH) together.

Application of Conventions Nos 155 and 187 in practice. The Committee notes the statistics available on the Statistics Norway (SSB) website on industrial accidents reported to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). The data shows that in 2022, a total of 22,894 accidents were reported, with 31 resulting in fatalities; in 2021, 23,201 accidents were reported, with 39 fatalities; in 2020, 20,080 accidents were reported, with 41 fatalities; and in 2019, 21,991 accidents were reported, with 33 fatalities. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application in practice of the Conventions, including on the number, nature and cause of reported occupational accidents and cases of occupational diseases.

National policy

Article 2(3) of Convention No. 187. Measures that could be taken, in consultation with social partners, to ratify relevant OSH Conventions of the ILO. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Norwegian ILO Committee, comprising the eight main social partners, meets five times a year and discussed the unratified OSH Conventions in August 2023. The Government indicates that the authorities did not receive any specific suggestions regarding Conventions that should be ratified. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the periodic consideration given to measures that could be taken to ratify relevant ILO OSH Conventions.

Articles 4, 7 and 15 of Convention No. 155 and Article 3(1) of Convention No. 187. National OSH policy and coordination between authorities. Following its previous comment regarding coherence of the national policy, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Labour Inspection Authority (LI) and the Petroleum Safety Authority, now named the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil), are engaged in an ongoing dialogue to enhance the coherence of the national OSH policy. The Government reports that both agencies have been expressly directed to maintain close cooperation and to share relevant information and experiences, especially in areas where their responsibilities intersect. Among the measures adopted, the Government highlights the establishment of the OSH Initiative, a collaborative effort between LI, Havtil, NAV and the National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI). The Government reports that this initiative aims to promote systematic, knowledge-based, and preventive approaches to OSH among employers and that, as part of this initiative, an Occupational Health Portal website was launched to provide industry-targeted information on effective OSH practices. Additionally, the Government indicates that, under the coordination of the LI, a joint report will be prepared by the agencies involved in the OSH Initiative, scheduled for release in March 2025. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the dialogue between the LI, Havtil and other agencies such as NAV and STAMI aimed at improving coherence of the national OSH policy.

National system

Article 4(3)(d) of Convention No. 187. Occupational health services. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the 2023 revision of the occupational health services regulations (Regulations concerning administrative arrangements within the area of application of the Working Environment Act), which establish that the primary role of occupational health services is to support enterprises in implementing systematic and preventive measures related to occupational health, work environment and safety. The revised regulations also mandate that all employees within occupational health services complete mandatory training. The Committee notes this information, which responds to its previous request.

Article 11(c) of Convention No. 155 and Article 4(3)(f) of Convention No. 187. Mechanism for the collection and analysis of data on occupational injuries and diseases. In response to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the registry for occupational accidents, now managed by SSB, is operational and accessible via the SSB website. With regard to occupational diseases, the Government reports that an information system is currently under development but has not yet been completed, and that although a digital reporting service for occupational diseases has been established on the NAV website, this system is not yet capable of producing statistical data. For other work-related diseases, the Government indicates that reporting to the LI is mandatory for physicians, yet remains significantly underreported. The Government estimates that approximately 1,800 cases of work-related diseases are reported to the LI each year, although calculations by the LI suggest the actual number of work-related diseases is closer to 30,000 annually. The Government further indicates that the LI has initiated a dialogue with NAV to enhance physician reporting to the LI, though this collaboration is still in the early stages. Referring to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129), the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to improve reporting of work-related diseases to the LI, as well as on the progress and outcomes of the ongoing dialogue between the NAV and LI in this regard. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures to improve the mechanism for the collection and analysis of data on occupational diseases.

Article 4(3)(h) of Convention No. 187. Support mechanisms for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the informal economy. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a new action plan to combat work-related crime and social dumping was launched in 2022 following tripartite dialogue and is being implemented in collaboration with social partners. The Government also reports that the Occupational Health Portal website, developed in consultation with social partners, contains tools tailored to support various types of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in systematically improving OSH conditions. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information in relation to mechanisms to support the progressive improvement of OSH in the informal economy.

National OSH Programme

Article 5 of Convention No. 187. National OSH programme. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that the main strategy for a safe and proper working life is stated in the National Budget, which provides that OSH is a key component in the main goals for the labour market as a whole. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the overarching objective of the national OSH programme is reflected in the Working Environment Act, which aims to secure a working environment that provides a basis for a healthy and meaningful working life and offers full protection from harmful physical and mental factors. The Government indicates that annual budget proposals include national-level measures and strategies to advance these goals and that the current strategy emphasizes supporting employers' responsibility by assisting enterprises in their preventive OSH work, as well as implementing measures to ensure adequate working conditions. Budget proposals also contain status updates on OSH developments across sectors, and the annual letters of allocation to public agencies specify objectives. These agencies subsequently report on progress on the objectives in their annual reports to the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion.

Regarding the review of the OSH programme with social partners, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Inclusive Working Life (IA) Agreement between the authorities and social partners outlines specific objectives for workplace safety. The current IA Agreement (2019–2024) focuses on preventive work environment efforts and addresses long-term and recurring sickness absences, and identifies several measures to reach its objectives. The Government also reports that consultations with social partners occur in other areas at a national level including through: (i) the Advisory Committee on Labour Market and Pension Issues, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion; and (ii) the tripartite IA Coordination Group, chaired by the State Secretary. In addition, the Government reports that every three years, the STAMI publishes the Factbook on Working Environments and Health, providing an overview of the country’s current OSH status and tracking developments across various indicators. STAMI also directs the National Occupational Health Surveillance (NOA), which compiles and disseminates OSH knowledge, aiming to make OSH information accessible to stakeholders and policymakers. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and periodic review the national programme on occupational safety and health in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. It requests further information on the manner in which it is publicized as well as endorsed and launched by the highest national authorities.

In addition, the Committee recalls the pending comments regarding the technical OSH Conventions ratified (the Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115), the Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120), the Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139), the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), the Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) and the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176), adopted by the Committee in 2021, for which the Government will be requested to reply in 2027 in accordance with the reporting cycle.