Do you want to contribute to the safety of your workplace? – Nominate yourself as candidate in the occupational safety and health representatives’ election!
An occupational safety and health (OSH) representative helps if the work community faces a crisis, provides support and gives tips on the right ways to do the work. OSH representatives are elected by the employees. Elections are organised this autumn for example in municipalities, wellbeing services counties and the private social services sector.
Occupational safety and health are a matter of great importance. Are you interested in influencing the safety of your workplace? If you answered yes, the role of an occupational safety and health representative may be a great fit for you.
Many workplaces have occupational safety and health representatives’ elections this autumn. In those elections the employees elect from among themselves an occupational safety and health representative to represent them in matters that concern safety, health and ability to work.
An occupational safety and health representative conveys messages between the employees and the management. An occupational safety and health representative’s term is 2–4 years long. Elections are organised this autumn in municipalities, wellbeing services counties, the company sector of Local Government and County Employers KT, the private social services sector and the church sector. A lot of JHL members work in these sectors.
In the private social services sector the term of occupational safety and health representatives is two years, unless a longer term has been agreed in a local agreement. In the other sectors the term is four years long.
Trade Union JHL has compiled an information package about organising occupational safety and health representatives’ election in your workplace (in Finnish).
JHL provides training for the elected OSH representatives
Occupational safety and health representatives have significant responsibilities. They organise a meeting of the employer and the employees if a crisis arises in the work community. They can also interrupt hazardous work.
The OSH representative provides support in resolving conflicts between employees and in situations where a client behaves in a threatening way. The occupational safety and health representative can also for example guide colleagues in the use of tools and give tips on the right ways to do the work.
JHL provides versatile training for OSH representative’s duties (in Finnish), and the training is cost-free for the members. JHL Institute organises courses on a regular basis. The courses can normally be attended during working hours.
OSH representatives work together with the OSH manager, occupational health services and other OSH parties. They monitor that agreed action is taken.
If at least 10 regular employees work in a workplace, it is required that the employees elect an occupational safety and health representative and two deputy representatives from among themselves. These representatives participate in occupational safety and health cooperation and keep in contact with occupational safety and health authorities. OSH representatives can also be elected in smaller workplaces.
Stand for election and contribute to the safety of your workplace!
Join JHL!
JHL is the most diverse trade union in Finland. Our members work in about one thousand different occupations in welfare and public services. You can be for example a social welfare or health care professional, a youth worker or an early childhood education and care professional, a cleaner, a cook, a secretary, a security guard or a train conductor, and we are your trade union!
