Working Environment Committee (AMU)
All enterprises with at least 30 employees are obliged to establish a working environment committee (AMU). The same applies to enterprises with between 10 and 30 employees when one of the parties demands it.
Who should be members of the working environment committee
he Labour Inspection Authority may decide that there should be a working environment committee in a company that is not required to have one. The working environment committee should have an equal number of representatives from the employer and the employees. The committee should have a minimum of four and preferably no more than eight members. If the company has occupational health services, they should be represented as observers in the committee.
Electing members for the working environment committee
The employer appoints their representatives in the committee. A representative from the top management must always be part of the committee. The main safety representative must be one of the employee representatives. All employees, except for the top management, have the right to vote and be eligible for election. The election should be conducted through a written and secret ballot, and alternate members should also be elected. The election is supervised by an electoral committee appointed by the local trade union. If there are multiple local trade unions, the electoral committee is appointed jointly by the unions. If the trade unions cannot reach an agreement, the electoral committee is appointed by the employer. If there are no local trade unions, the electoral committee is appointed by the employer.
The Working Environment Act regarding the working environment committee (in Norwegian only)
The tasks of the working environment committee
The working environment committee shall work for a fully satisfactory working environment in the enterprise. They shall participate in the planning of safety and environmental work, and closely monitor the development of the working environment. The committee shall address:
a) Issues concerning occupational health services and the internal safety service.
b) Questions regarding training, instruction, and information activities in the enterprise, which are relevant to the working environment.
c) Plans requiring the consent of the Labour Inspection Authority pursuant to the Working Environment Act § 18-9 (consent for construction projects et cetera).
d) Other plans that may have significant impact on the working environment, such as construction projects, purchase of machinery, rationalization, work processes, and preventive safety measures.
e) Establishment and maintenance of the enterprise's systematic health, environment, and safety work.
f) Health and welfare-related issues related to working hours arrangements.
The list is not exhaustive.
Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority – the Working Environment Committee (AMU) (in Norwegian only)
The Working Environment Act regarding the working environment committee (in Norwegian only)
