UiO aims to maintain a health-promoting work environment
1. UiO works systematically to ensure that the total sick leave remains below 4% annually
Main activities
- Increased focus on reducing long-term sick leave through immediate follow-up from the first day of absence
- Follow-up efforts prioritise work-related sick leave and absences among PhD candidates
- Training in sick leave management is provided
- The need for managerial support for line managers with a wide span of control is assessed
2. UiO works preventively to reduce work-related stress
Main activities
- Exploration of measures to reduce high workload and work–home conflict
UiO will work systematically to improve the psychosocial work environment
3. The work environment survey (ARK) is continuously followed up
Main activities
- Action plan for the psychosocial work environment (after ARK) is followed up
- Evaluation of the follow-up work of ARK 2024 is carried out
- Training in conflict management, “The necessary conversation,” and harassment is carried out
- Work environment mapping is carried out every three years
4. Systematic risk assessment of the psychosocial work environment
(cf. § 4-3 of the Working Environment Act)
Main activities
- Risk assessments of the psychosocial work environment are carried out
- Relevant tools and training in methods for local risk assessment work are provided
UiO seeks to strengthen risk assessment and internal control
5. 90% of the cases in the deviation system are initiated for processing within one week
Main activities
- A new HSE deviation reporting system with integrated reports is implemented
- Training of employees, managers, and safety representatives. Training of case handlers
- Systematic case processing in all units
6. The number of deviation reports is increased to uncover, correct, and prevent violations of HSE laws and regulations
Main activities
- Campaign to increase deviation reporting
7. Systematic risk assessments are carried out regularly
Main activities
- Mapping of risk factors/hazard identifications to determine the need for full risk assessment
- Development of methodology and training
- Risk assessments of exposure are carried out for physical, biological, or chemical hazards; fieldwork; work with machinery, etc.
UiO aims to strengthen chemical safety
8. The chemical inventory is continuously kept up to date
Main activities
- Ensure that safety data sheets are updated (average age less than 3 years)
- Introduce a new chemical inventory system and create training material
9. All chemical use takes place under controlled conditions
Main activities
- Risk assessment and registration of work involving carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances and precursor chemicals for explosives
10. Exposure to CMR substances is registered and minimized
Main activities
- Implementation of a digital exposure register
- Routine registration and follow-up of exposed individuals
11. Laboratories are correctly labeled
Main activities
- Implementation of a new template for safety signage in laboratories
UiO will ensure that university buildings meet the requirements for a safe and sound working environment
12. Everyone has access to UiO’s educational and research facilities, regardless of functional ability
Main activities
- UiO includes universal design in all construction and renovation projects.
UiO is committed to providing high-quality HSE training
13. UiO ensures that all managers with personnel responsibility, members of AMU/LAMU, and safety representatives complete HSE training
Main activities
- Provision and completion of HSE training
UiO aims to increase the systematisation of HSE work
14. All safety areas have a safety representative and deputy elected by the employees
Main activities
- Work on recruitment in connection with safety representative elections is given higher priority
15. Managers have regular meetings with safety representatives
Main activities
- Managers invite safety representatives to regular conversations
16. The routines for reporting HSE activity are reviewed and improved
Main activities
- Good HSE reporting routines are developed (for areas where reporting does not exist as of early 2025)
- Registration of all HSE training (not only basic HSE training) is followed up
Work on the HSE goals
About the goals and main activities
- Additional goals may be developed locally, and further activities may be added to complement the main activities in this plan.
- Some goals and activities may not be relevant for all units.
- Feel free to use the template for local HSE plans (Word)
Responsibility
- To achieve the goals, they must be well known throughout the organisation.
- Responsibility for following up the activities rests both with UiO centrally and with the faculties and subordinate units.
- HSE is a management responsibility, and all employees have a duty to contribute. Safety representatives must be involved and included in regular meetings with management.
Reporting
- For many of the goals, existing records can be used to assess progress, for instance the sick leave rate, the work environment survey, UiO’s internal HSE training data, HSE deviations, and the age of safety data sheets.
- Systematic reporting routines should be developed for all goal areas.
- Activities may be adjusted during AMU processing and in connection with reporting.
- HSE goals should be discussed in LAMU at least twice a year.
- The status of central activities is reviewed annually in AMU and included in UiO’s annual HSE report.
UiO’s HSE policies
The policies are a set of duties/expectations/requirements that must be followed up. The policies can specify how legislation is to be complied with where the law provides options, or they can provide overarching frameworks for how HSE work at UiO should be conducted. The policies are adopted by the management.