Should I contact the occupational safety and health inspectorate or my trade union?

– If you feel that you are mentally, physically or socially overworked or underworked, discuss your feelings first with your supervisor. If necessary, you can also discuss the problem with the occupational safety and health officer or organisation, or the employees’ representative at your workplace. If you have stress-induced symptoms, we recommend contacting your occupational health care organisation.

The primary place for solving work-related problems is the workplace. If the problem cannot be resolved at the workplace, contact the occupational safety and health inspectorate or your trade union.

– The duty of the occupational health and safety inspectorates is to monitor and control work-related health risk or hazards to humans.

Such hazards include:

• work community risks and risks attributable to customers, such as inappropriate treatment, harassment, discrimination and the threat of violence
• ergonomics risks, such as heavy manual lifting or transfers and repetitive work
• physical risks, such as noise or radiation
• biological risks, such as indoor air impurities
• chemical risks, such as the safety of the materials used in the work
• machinery and equipment risks, such as the use of unprotected machinery

Furthermore, occupational safety and health inspectorates investigate serious industrial accidents and certain suspected occupational disease cases.

– In civil disputes, contact your trade union, either independently or via the employees’ representative at your workplace.

Civil disputes include:

• disagreements or disciplinary measures related to the employment or service contract
• disputes concerning the content of work and job descriptions
• contract disputes concerning working hours and travelling
• wages due.

The expert consulted was Riina Perko, Senior Officer at the Uusimaa Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate.