Healthy and safe work
Psychosocial stress at work must be managed, the threat of violence at work must be combated, and the effects of extreme weather conditions must be considered in occupational safety and health
The psychosocial demand of work has grown, and greater attention should be paid to this in legislation. The threat of violence is also a real safety risk for employees in many sectors, and this must be managed more effectively. Consideration must also be given to the occupational health and safety risks posed by climate change.
Objectives
- Occupational safety and health legislation must be specified in a separate decree that pays greater attention to recognising and managing the psychosocial demand of work.
- The Mental Health at Work Programme coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health must be continued into the next government term on a tripartite basis.
- A separate decree must provide more detailed regulations for managing the threat of violence.
- Occupational safety and health provisions must be supplemented to reflect the occupational health and safety risks arising from climate change.
Grounds
The Occupational Safety and Health Act is a framework statute that does not specifically regulate the measures that must be taken at workplaces to manage the mental health risks and harm arising from work. As with many risks to physical safety at work, there is a need for a separate decree on this issue that will guide minimum requirements for workplaces in order to prevent harmful psychosocial stress at work.
The aim of the Mental Health at Work Programme for 2020–2022 coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has been to increase the ability of workplaces to strengthen the mental health of employees. The programme is linked to the National Mental Health Strategy under the Government Programme. One of its policies is to support mental health in the world of work.
There is still much to be done in work life in terms of implementing working conditions and practices with a view to improving the mental wellbeing of employees. The Mental Health at Work Programme is linked to the objectives of the WORK2030 programme. Systematic measures should continue into the next government term, as it takes time to communicate the tools produced in the programme, and to increase knowledge and understanding at workplaces in Finland.
The psychosocial stress factors of work and the risk of severe burnout are a growing problem in the world of work that affects all sectors and employee groups. Blue-collar operatives can also find work to be mentally stressful. The most common experience of psychological stress in industries organised by SAK-affiliated trade unions occurs in the private services sector, where 40 per cent of employees find that their work imposes demands on mental wellbeing. The corresponding figures are 38 per cent in the public sector, 32 per cent in transport, and 24 per cent in manufacturing. Sustained psychological stress at work reduces the working capacity of an employee.
The threat of violence is also a major safety risk in many sectors, and a decree must be enacted to guide workplace measures for managing this problem.
The 2021 working conditions survey conducted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment found that eight per cent of wage and salary earners had observed violence or the threat of violence from clients or customers at their workplace on several occasions, and that five per cent had observed such conduct on one occasion during the 12 months preceding the survey. There is a major gender disparity in perceiving and experiencing violence, with 19 per cent of women and 8 per cent of men witnessing violence or the threat of violence in 2021. One in ten women and four per cent of men had personal experience of violence or the threat of violence.
Climate change is bringing extreme weather phenomena, such as prolonged heatwaves, high levels of ultraviolet light and severe storms. This will affect everyone, but especially people who work outdoors and those whose work is physically demanding. Regulations must be clarified to ensure the health and safety of workers. Climate-related health risks are already evident in the everyday lives of many employees. People generally work most effectively at temperatures between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius, depending on the type of work in question. Besides health impacts, higher temperatures increase the risk of exhaustion, and can lead to difficulties in concentrating and reduced alertness. Flagging concentration has numerous consequences, and may at worst affect the safety of work. More detailed regulations are needed concerning such aspects as breaks in work and protection from heatwaves.
Note
Finland must also promote corresponding reforms in EU legislation.
Other SAK objectives related to healthy and safe work
- Legislation must ensure good conditions for health and safety functions at workplaces.
- Discontinuities in occupational health care must be repaired.