The audit forms part of a series covering 20 companies in which the PSA and the Labour Inspection Authority have audited compliance with Section 2 A-3 of the Working Environment Act concerning the obligation to prepare procedures for internal notification.
Background
Notification concerns the reporting of censurable conditions at the workplace. Through their employment, employees may become aware of matters that are or could be contrary to:
- Legal acts and regulations
- The company’s policies
- The general perception of what is justifiable or ethically acceptable
The Working Environment Act gives permanent and contract workers the right to notify censurable conditions. The notification rules in the Working Environment Act cover cases where an employee notifies censurable conditions in his or her own company. The Act also entitles contracted employees to notify censurable conditions in the contracting company.
In connection with its systematic HSE work, the employer must prepare procedures for internal notifications or implement other measures to facilitate the right to notify censurable conditions. This right shall contribute to strengthening employees’ genuine freedom of expression in the workplace.
Result
We have received a copy of the company’s procedures for notification of censurable conditions. In its response, Bilfinger Industrier Norge AS describes how the procedure is communicated to employees. However, it is not apparent that the safety delegate service was involved in preparing the procedure. The audit has identified an improvement point relating to employee participation.
The results of this audit series will be summarised in a report and published at psa.no