They are also fundamental for achieving integrated management in this area.
From an ethical perspective, it is crucial that people exposed to risk participate in decision-making processes which affect such exposure.
Norway’s Working Environment Act also contains a number of provisions on the right and duty of workers to participate in ensuring a fully acceptable working environment in an enterprise.
The same requirements for participation also apply when government agencies develop risk-based regulations and regulatory regimes based to a great extent on functional specifications.
Applying this functional approach means that the players themselves can decide to a great extent how the regulations are to be applied in practice.
The industry accordingly has more freedom to choose between alternative solutions than would be the case with detailed regulations.
This freedom of action imposes great demands on the quality of decisions and decision-making processes – including the ability to ensure that workers have the necessary level of involvement before solutions are chosen.
The PSA chairs two key tripartite arenas involving employers, unions and government: the Safety Forum and the Regulatory Forum. In addition, it participates as member or observer in a number of other multi-party fora.
