A workplace health and safety plan is intended to promote the safety, health and well-being of employees. Employers should ensure that the plan is available at all workplaces, regardless of size. The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health in Iceland calls for it in field inspections and digital inspections. The plan includes a written risk assessment and a written health protection and prevention plan.
When carrying out a risk assessment it is necessary to identify risks in the work environment that could potentially threaten the safety, health and well-being of employees, and all aspects of the activity and the work environment must be looked at holistically. In that context it is a good idea to build on the five main elements of occupational safety and health, and specific elements if applicable. However it depends on the nature of the activity how complex each risk factor is in the risk assessment.
Once a risk assessment has been made a health protection and prevention plan is drawn up, which deals with the measures that need to be taken so that the risk can be prevented or reduced as much as possible.
Here we discuss equipment and machinery, which is one of the five main elements of occupational safety and health.
New and old machines
New work machines must be CE marked and must be accompanied by a declaration of conformity and Icelandic user and safety instructions. Old machines must be just as safe as new ones.
More on new and old work machines.
Responsibility for the safety of equipment and machinery
Manufacturers, employers, and sellers are responsible for ensuring that equipment and machinery used at work is safe.
More on responsibility for the safety of equipment and machinery.
Market surveillance and CE-marking
Certain products must be CE marked in order to be placed on the Icelandic market.
This applies, for example, to equipment and machinery, devices, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other equipment. The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH) monitors whether products and equipment meet the basic safety requirements and are CE marked.
More on market surveillance and CE-marking.
Boilers and pressure equipment
The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH) registers and inspects boilers and pressure equipment used for various purposes in the food industry, hospitals, dry cleaners, breweries, and more.
More on boilers and pressure equipment.
Elevators and escalators
The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH) monitors lifts and escalators in Iceland. This includes passenger lifts, freight lifts, car lifts, and ski lifts.
More on elevators and escalators.
Safety in soilwork
Various types of hazards can be associated with work involving excavation, foundations, material extraction, and other types of excavation that are part of construction work. It is therefore important to conduct a risk assessment that identifies the risks and make a risk prevention plan for how to respond to them.
Here we discusse preparation, planning, site inspections, preventing collapse, machinery work, slope on trench walls, shoring, excavated material, access routes and warnings and more..
More on safety in soilwork.
Service provider
Administration of Occupational Safety and Health