Safe working environment
Everyone should feel safe at their workplace. Indoor air problems, violence and ergonomic problems all pose a threat to a safe working environment.
The employer’s obligation is to ensure the safety of the work environment – a safe working environment is an essential part of employees’ work well-being.
If you see any deficiencies in your work environment, notify your employer and the OSH representative for your workplace.
Indoor air
Moisture and mould damage is the main reason for poor indoor air quality in homes and workplaces. Other indoor air impurities or faulty air conditioning also cause symptoms and health problems.
Some of the symptoms linked to indoor air problems:
- eye and respiratory tract irritation
- skin irritation
- runny nose
- cough
- loss of voice
- headache
- nausea
- fatigue
A typical sign is for the symptoms to intensify when the person is inside the building. The symptoms usually stop or become milder quite soon after leaving the building.
Violence
Violence and the threat thereof are a danger to the work environment. The employer must arrange working conditions in such a way as to prevent situations that may involve the threat of violence. As the threat of violence in the education and training sector is higher than average, prevention is especially important.
Dealing with violence
If you are the target of psychosocial or physical violence at your workplace:
- Immediately inform your employer or supervisor of what happened.
- Visit your occupational health-care provider or otherwise seek expert help from a health-care provider.
- Contact your OSH representative or the shop steward at your workplace and report the incident.
- File a police report or request an investigation after the situation has been assessed.
- Convene the school’s student welfare services working group or crisis team.
- Discuss the matter in your work community.
Voice ergonomics
The noise conditions in day-care centres, schools and educational institutions affect the well-being of both staff and students: noise and commotion disrupt day-to-day teaching. Voice ergonomics means improving the opportunities for producing good sound and listening.
The objective is to prevent voice problems. Chatter is a day-to-day occurrence in the field of education, but too much noise and commotion affects occupational health and safety.
Employers are responsible for looking after their employees’ safety and health and must take action if there are shortcomings in sound conditions.
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