Occupational Safety Requirements for Foreign Construction Workers in Finland – A Complete Guide

Working in Finland’s construction industry comes with high standards for safety and compliance. The Finnish authorities place significant emphasis on occupational safety and health, ensuring that every employee, whether local or foreign, is protected from workplace risks. Employers in Finland are legally obligated to create safe working conditions, while employees are equally required to follow safety instructions and practices.

For foreign construction companies entering the Finnish market, understanding these rules is essential. Not only does it protect workers and improve project efficiency, but it also demonstrates compliance with Finnish law, avoiding costly penalties or work stoppages. This guide, prepared by Työturvakortit.fi, will walk you through the core requirements step by step.

In this first part, we cover the fundamentals of Finnish occupational safety legislation and highlight the shared responsibilities of employers and employees.

Finnish Occupational Safety Legislation – The Fundamentals

Employer’s General Duty and Duty of Care

In Finland, the Occupational Safety and Health Act sets a clear standard: employers are responsible for ensuring that work does not endanger the safety or health of their employees. Every workplace must be designed and managed so that it is both safe and healthy.

The employer’s duty of care includes taking all necessary measures to prevent risks, minimize hazards, and adapt working conditions to employees’ abilities. This responsibility goes beyond general oversight—it requires continuous planning, monitoring, and improvement.

Key principles include:

• Prevention of risks – Employers must identify and eliminate hazards before they occur.
  
• Substitution of dangerous methods – If a risk cannot be fully eliminated, a safer alternative must be chosen.
  
• Continuous monitoring – Workplaces must be regularly inspected to ensure that safety procedures and protective equipment are effective.
  
• Adaptation to workers’ needs – Safety measures must consider employees’ individual capabilities and health conditions.
  

In Finland, even temporary construction sites are subject to strict inspections by occupational safety authorities. Non-compliance can lead to immediate work stoppages or fines.

Employee’s Duty to Follow Instructions and Work Safely

Foreign workers in Finland have the same obligations as Finnish employees when it comes to occupational safety. Every worker is required to comply with the employer’s safety instructions and orders within the scope of their authority. At the same time, employees must ensure that they perform their tasks in a safe manner and follow the rules provided.

The importance of following instructions is especially emphasized in situations where the employer has identified a health or safety risk. Failing to comply with instructions without a valid reason can lead to disciplinary actions from the employer.

Employee obligations include:

• Complying with the employer’s safety instructions and regulations.
  
• Using the protective equipment or safety devices provided by the employer (e.g., helmet, safety boots, high-visibility vest on a construction site).
  
• Acting responsibly to protect both their own safety and the safety of colleagues, in line with their experience, training, and professional skills.
  
• Operating machinery and equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions and safety guidelines.
  
• Never removing or disabling protective guards or safety devices without a justified reason.
  

Obligation to Report Hazards

Employees are also legally required to report any faults, hazards, or deficiencies that could endanger workplace safety. This duty applies immediately upon noticing a problem.

Examples of issues that must be reported include:

• Unsafe working methods.
  
• Broken or malfunctioning tools.
  
• Inadequate personal protective equipment.
  

Reports should be made to the immediate supervisor or to the workplace safety representative. The employee must also, to the best of their ability and expertise, eliminate hazards that pose an obvious and immediate risk.

In turn, the employer has a responsibility to inform both the reporting employee and the safety representative about the actions taken to address the issue.

Open communication about hazards is not just encouraged—it is a legal requirement in Finland. Workers cannot be punished for reporting safety risks.

Right to Refuse Dangerous Work

Finnish law gives employees strong protection through the right to refuse work that presents an immediate and serious danger to life or health.

Key points:

• An employee has the right to interrupt work if it creates a direct and significant threat to their own safety or the safety of others.
  
• The interruption must be reported to the employer or supervisor without delay.
  
• This right continues until the danger has been removed or the employer has ensured safe working conditions.
  
• If the employer does not act, the employee may escalate the matter to the occupational safety authorities.
  
• Employees are not liable for damages caused by suspending work under these conditions.
  
• Workers should, however, make sure that the interruption does not create additional danger to themselves or others.
  

In Finland, the right to refuse unsafe work is widely recognized in practice. It empowers employees to prioritize safety without fear of retaliation.

Employer’s Obligation to Insure Employees

Under Finnish law, employers are legally required to insure their employees against accidents and occupational diseases. This statutory workers’ compensation insurance covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and compensation for loss of income in cases where an employee is injured at work or on the way to and from work.

For foreign companies operating in Finland—either as contractors or subcontractors—compliance with this obligation is crucial. According to the Finnish Act on the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability, proof of valid pension and accident insurance, as well as proof of paid contributions, must be provided.

Special Rules for Posted Workers

The requirements for posted workers (employees temporarily sent to Finland from abroad) depend on their country of origin:

• EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom:
  A valid A1/E101 certificate serves as proof of social security coverage in the home country. With this document, the worker remains insured in their home state.
  
• If no valid A1 certificate is available:
  The employee must be insured under Finnish pension and accident insurance from the very first working day in Finland.
  
• Employees from non-EU/EEA countries:
  Employers must provide a certificate of pension security from the home country and take out accident insurance in Finland.
  

Oversight by Occupational Safety Authorities

The Finnish Occupational Safety and Health Authority (Työsuojeluviranomainen) actively monitors whether employers have fulfilled their insurance obligations. This is a standard part of inspections, especially when foreign labor is involved.

• If an employer has not taken the mandatory insurance, the inspector issues a written advisory notice.
  
• Authorities are also obliged to report suspected non-compliance to the Finnish Workers’ Compensation Centre (TVK), which supervises the entire insurance system.
  
• Inspectors may verify insurance coverage directly from the TVK’s insurance register.
  

Failure to arrange accident insurance does not only expose employers to fines and administrative actions—it can also result in severe financial liabilities if an uninsured worker suffers an accident.

Occupational safety in Finland is built on a clear framework of shared responsibilities between employers and employees. Employers carry the primary duty of ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, backed by continuous risk assessments, protective measures, and mandatory accident insurance. At the same time, employees are not passive recipients of safety rules—they are active participants who must follow instructions, report hazards, use protective equipment, and, if necessary, exercise their right to refuse dangerous work.

For foreign construction companies entering the Finnish market, these requirements may seem strict at first. However, they create a transparent and reliable environment where everyone knows their role in maintaining workplace safety. Compliance not only protects workers but also enhances productivity, reduces downtime, and safeguards the company’s reputation.

At Työturvakortit.fi, we specialize in helping international contractors and their employees navigate Finland’s occupational safety requirements. Through our training and guidance, we ensure that both employers and workers understand their duties and rights—making integration into the Finnish construction sector smoother, safer, and fully compliant with the law.

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Health and safety at work

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Centre for Occupational Safety