APV: Mandatory company risk assessment

30 July, 2024
2 minute read
Legal and Corporate Law

Every 3 years companies in Denmark are required to conduct a company risk assessment.

But did you know that you as management must revisit the assessment every time significant changes are made to the work environment – such as relocation, temperature changes, noise, light, new IT, new furniture, etc.?

What is the APV?

APV stands for ‘arbejdspladsvurdering’ (workplace assessment) and is mandatory for all companies with employees.

Conducting an APV is all about mapping out the current work environment (physical as well as psychological), and taking corrective action where it is needed. It also serves the purpose of ensuring that companies comply with health and safety legislation.

It is a great way for both employees and employers to ensure the best conditions for a great work environment, which in turn can contribute to more efficiency, improved job satisfaction, less illness-related absence, fewer costs related to accidents and injuries, and lower employee turnover.

What are the requirements for the APV?

When a company starts to employ, a plan for an APV must be initiated. The first APV must be ready no later than three months after the first employee has been hired.

It is up to the employer to make sure that an APV is conducted at least every third year. However, if changes are made that influence the work environment in any way, the APV must be revisited.

Furthermore, the APV must be:

In writing.

Accessible for management, employees, and the relevant authorities (‘Arbejdstilsynet‘).

A cooperative process between management and employees in its entirety.

Additionally, the employer must each year discuss the work environment with the employees (‘Arbejdsmiljødrøftelse‘). The employer must be able to document that this discussion has taken place.

The AMO

The AMO or ‘arbejdsmiljøorganisation’ (health and safety organization) is a collaboration between management and employees. This is a requirement for companies with 10 or more employees. The AMO must be a part of the entire APV process.

The following three roles must be present:

The employer.

The work leader (‘arbejdsleder’): is appointed by the employer (or is the employer). This person must primarily oversee the work done in the company.

The work environment rep. (‘arbejdemiljørepresentant’ or ‘AMR’): is appointed for 2 years at a time by the employees who the AMR represents.

The employees must easily be able to get in contact with the AMO during working hours. The number of members in the AMO depends on the size and structure of the organization.

There must be at least the same number of AMRs as ‘Arbejdsledere’ represented in the AMO.

The job of the AMO

The AMO must work together to solve and prevent any issues that have to do with the work environment identified in the APV. The AMO must also ensure that work-related accidents or injuries are examined to ensure preventative actions.

Furthermore, the AMO must ensure that new employees are equipped for their tasks, so accidents and injuries are avoided.

Note that it is also mandatory for AMO members to complete the ‘arbejdsmiljøuddannelse’ no later than 3 months after entering the AMO.

The five phases of the APV

There are various methods and tools available to help you conduct the APV. However, there are four elements that must always be a part of the APV process:

Identification and surveying of the company’s overall work environment. This should include an assessment of the company’s health and safety problems.

Include sickness-related absence to assess whether the work environment may be a contributing factor here.

Prioritization of the company’s health and safety issues, including an action plan. This should include who is responsible for solving the problems, and when and how they must do so. Problems that can be solved right away ought to be handled instantly.

Follow through with the action plan and assess whether the initiatives have had the desired effect. If not, the action plan must be revisited.