Cooperation on safety and health takes place in a working environment organisation (arbejdsmiljøorganisation). The rules are in the executive order on systematic working environment work (BEK no. 608 of 29 June 2026), chapters 3-5.
When must a company have a working environment organisation?
- 10 or more employees: the cooperation must take place in a working environment organisation (§ 12).
- 1-9 employees: there is no duty to set one up. Cooperation takes place through ongoing, direct contact and dialogue between the employer, any supervisors and the employees (§ 10).
For office work, other administrative work and work in shops, only employees who work 10 hours or more per week count (§ 14(2)). Company managers and supervisors do not count.
Who is in it?
- The working environment representative (arbejdsmiljørepræsentant) is elected by the employees who have no management responsibility. The role is to represent the employees, contribute knowledge and propose solutions (§ 17).
- The supervisor (arbejdsleder) is appointed by the employer. The role is to represent management and contribute knowledge about the company's production and working environment (§ 18).
There must always be at least as many working environment representatives as supervisors (§ 19(3)).
One level or two levels
- 10-34 employees: a working environment organisation with 1 level. It handles both the overall and the daily tasks (§ 19).
- 35 or more employees: two levels (§ 20). Working environment groups (arbejdsmiljøgrupper) handle the daily tasks. A group consists of 1 supervisor and 1 working environment representative. The working environment committee (arbejdsmiljøudvalg) handles the overall tasks. The employer or the employer's representative is the chair, and the chair must be able to act on the employer's behalf.
How many members and groups are needed is decided by the proximity principle (nærhedsprincippet) (§ 24). All employees must be able to get in touch with their working environment representative, and they must be able to talk about the working environment during working hours.
The daily tasks of the working environment group (§ 31)
- take part in the workplace assessment (APV) in its area
- check that working conditions are fully safe and healthy
- check that training and instruction are sufficient and appropriate
- take part in the investigation of accidents and near misses and in measures to prevent a repeat
- inform the employer about accidents at work
- be the link between the employees and the working environment committee
- take problems that cannot be solved locally to the working environment committee
The overall tasks of the working environment committee (§ 30)
The committee takes part in the annual working environment discussion and in the APV process, checks the safety and health work and contributes proposals for prevention. It also makes sure that the causes of accidents are investigated, and produces an annual overview of accidents, poisonings and health damage. If the employer does not follow a proposal from the committee, the committee has the right to a justification within 3 weeks.
Election and protection
The working environment representative is elected for 2 years. The parties can agree on a longer period, but no more than 4 years (§ 37). You are protected against dismissal and worsening of your conditions in the same way as a shop steward (tillidsrepræsentant). If you do not have that protection, you have an extended notice period of 6 weeks.
When there is danger
If there is an imminent, significant danger that the working environment group cannot avert itself, and there is no time to contact management, the group can stop the work to the extent necessary (§ 32(2)). Inform management immediately and explain why.