All workplaces are required to have a written health and safety plan, regardless of the number of employees. The plan should include a risk assessment, health protection and risk prevention measures, as well as an emergency plan. The goal is to promote the safety and well-being of employees.

It is recommended that the creation of the plan be a collaborative effort involving the employer, management, and employees. The plan is a living document that should never be forgotten in a drawer or on a computer.

It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that a written health and safety plan is created for the workplace, regardless of its size. It is recommended that the creation of the plan be a collaborative effort between the employer, management, and employees. Employees should be ready to participate in the development of the plan if requested.

Further information can be found here on the website.

A written health and safety plan involves assessing the risks associated with all tasks within the workplace. When the assessment shows that there is a risk, actions must be taken to address it, and preventative measures should be implemented to either eliminate or reduce the risk. The plan should specify which preventive measures have been taken.

For more information, please refer to the website.

Everyone at the workplace is responsible for promoting safety and well-being in the workplace. Managers lead by example, but everyone is responsible for their own behavior. Courtesy and respect for colleagues should be demonstrated, and the workplace values must be upheld. This includes respecting each other’s roles and adhering to the workplace safety rules. For example, using appropriate personal protective equipment, maintaining good communication with everyone at the workplace, and informing managers when things are not right. Workplace safety activities need to be an integral part of daily operations so that employees feel safe and well in their work environment.

Further information can be found here on the website.

Employers are required to respond to accidents and incidents by reviewing the written health and safety plan at the workplace. This involves reviewing the risk assessment to determine whether new risks contributed to the accident or incident, as well as evaluating what additional preventive measures need to be implemented beyond those already in place.

Additionally, it is recommended to conduct an annual summary of workplace accidents, incidents, and work-related illnesses that have occurred since the last review, with the purpose of assessing whether further preventive measures are necessary. Such measures could include training, revision or implementation of new procedures, or re-evaluating the design of the work environment. Furthermore, it is recommended that the employer involve employees in preparing the summary.

Further information can be found here on the website.

The health and safety plan at the workplace should be a living document that must not be forgotten in a drawer or on a computer. The plan involves a process of continuous improvement and needs to be reviewed regularly in cooperation with the employer, managers, and employees. This includes assessing whether the preventive measures that have been implemented are still achieving the intended results in preventing or reducing the risks they were meant to address.

Furthermore, it is very important that when changes are made to the workplace operations, such as procedures or facilities, it is always necessary to assess whether these changes introduce new risks that need to be addressed in order to prevent accidents or employee discomfort. This is an important step in preventing or reducing the likelihood of potential workplace accidents or employee discomfort.

More information can be found here on the website.

The health and safety plan at the workplace must be communicated to all employees and should always be accessible to both managers and staff. It is recommended that workplaces consider whether there is a need to make it available in languages other than Icelandic to ensure that everyone at the workplace can familiarize themselves with it. The Administration of Occupational Health and Safety requests access to the plan during site visits and digital communications.

For more details, refer to the regulations on the organization and implementation of occupational safety work at workplaces. (Only available in Icelandic)

Only those who have received recognition from the Administration of Occupational Health and Safety as approved service providers are allowed to assist in the preparation of a written health and safety plan for the workplace.

When the preparation of such a plan requires expertise that no one at the workplace possesses, the employer must seek assistance from an approved service provider. This may specifically concern the psychosocial work environment or machinery and equipment, for example.

A list of approved service providers can be found on our website. (Only available in Icelandic)