DENMARK
Inspection campaign
Implementation of virtual meetings in OSH-inspections
- Duration: The project began in autumn 2022 and it is being continued indefinitely.
- Sector: At the beginning of the project the focus was solely on economic sectors deemed as having the greatest potential for effective virtual activities conducted during inspections. Later on, the project has been expanded to all sectors where virtual meetings may replace physical ones if they comply with the set criteria.
- Number of inspected entities: WEA has not specified the precise number of entities to be covered by virtual inspection activities nor the precise number of inspections during which such activities are to be undertaken – virtual activities (meetings) are conducted during all inspections carried out by labour inspectors involved in the project where physical activities (meetings) may be replaced with virtual ones.
- Number of labour inspectors engaged in the campaign activities: In the first phase, only three inspectors were involved in the project. In the second phase, 77 inspectors were involved, and in the next – third – phase, all inspectors will be involved.
The aim of activities in the framework of the project has been to replace all physical actions (meetings) being part of inspection with virtual activities (meetings) where it is possible to uphold the same inspection standard as in physical inspections and where it is both a practical and technical advantage for WEA and the inspected company.
The project has had three phases. In the first phase, a few chosen inspectors experimented with virtual meetings, laying the ground for the principles for when to convert a physical meeting to a virtual one. In the second phase, the project was implemented for one of the four groups of inspectors, laying the foundation for the project to be implemented for all inspectors in the third phase.
In selecting entities where physical activities (meetings) have been replaced with virtual ones, WEA used the information comprised in the inspectorate's internal database – this information enabled WEA to determine the possible number of actions (meetings) which could be carried out virtually in the framework of a specific inspection. Information from the internal databases has been supplemented with the knowledge and experience of the inspectors involved in the project implementation.
At the beginning of the project, a central training event was held for a group of leaders whose task was to subsequently train inspectors in WEA regional offices.
The duration of virtual inspection activities (meetings) with the participants of inspections is between 2 and 4 hours. Virtual activities (meetings) are held with the help of SKYPE FOR BUSINESS application – labour inspectors have been trained on how to conduct an inspection using the above-mentioned electronic tool. Moreover, the inspected companies receive guidebooks with information on the correct preparation for a virtual meeting with a labour inspector.
The project assessment first and foremost comprised identification of difficulties and problems related to the implementation of virtual activities (meetings) and the possibility of tackling them. The project consisting in the implementation of virtual activities (meetings) as part of inspections has implied the change of methodology of conducting inspection activities in order to increase the effectiveness of the inspectorate’s work. Moreover, the project was initiated in order to carry out inspections in a more flexible way and to modernise the inspection actions of the Danish Working Environment Authority. As a result of the project, physical activities (meetings) are to be replaced with virtual ones, if they meet the set criteria:
a) the meeting venue has to correspond to the physical meeting in a conference hall in the enterprise,
b) the virtual form of the inspection activities does not preclude achieving information indispensable for the inspection and it allows to reveal irregularities,
c) the virtual activities (meetings) are usually a part of an inspection, but they can also constitute a complete one in the case of pre-announced inspections.
non-inspection campaign
Information campaign on asbestos
- Duration: 2nd quarter of 2024
- Sector: construction
- Number of establishments covered by the non-inspection activity: The major target group of the campaign were house owners and craftsmen – as per statistical data from recent years, in Denmark there are over 1.5 million house owners.
- Number of inspectors engaged in the non-inspection activity: 3
- Number of specialised staff involved in implementing the non-inspection activity: 4
- Budget: DKK 615,385.72, including costs of production and advertising
The campaign’s main objective was to disseminate information that asbestos is present in many more places than one might expect. The message was addressed first and foremost to Danish house owners, many of whom do not realise that they might be responsible for making initial examination of the presence of asbestos before hiring craftsmen. An important objective of the campaign also was to challenge a widespread belief that protection from asbestos is both costly and difficult.
The communication campaign is part of the political agreement on increased efforts for occupational safety and health for years 2023-2026.
Preparation and implementation of the project were completely financed from own sources of the labour inspectorate. The basis for the project preparation was the labour inspectorate’s own database on occupational diseases, as well as knowledge of experienced labour inspectors conducting inspections of hazards on which the campaign focused. The project team was composed of an expert on chemical hazards, a labour inspector and two communication experts, one of whom managed the project. All team members are employees of the DWEA.
The project preparation took place with the involvement of partners of the labour inspectorate, both from the public and private sectors.
In the framework of the campaign, publications and audio-visual materials were disseminated, press releases were published, information was placed on the DWEA website and websites of social partners, promotional activities were conducted on the internet (emailing, newsletter). Information on the campaign messages was displayed on information screens in technical schools all over the country, while the main activity within the framework of the campaign in which its participants could get involved was an internet quiz in three versions adapted to various recipients of the campaign.
The central element of the campaign was a series of videos with two influencers known from channels dedicated to renovation of houses, shown in social media and on the national television. In the videos, a labour inspector talks to them on asbestos present in houses from the decade of 1960s. The influencers are surprised that asbestos is present in so many different construction materials and in so many different rooms in houses. This is an authentic reaction which reflects the level of knowledge of the project target group.
Thanks to the project a broad network of cooperation was created regarding the safe handling of asbestos, including social partners, non-governmental organisations, scientific institutions, participants of the construction market and many other entities.
The tangible effect of the campaign was documented during its evaluation by interactions of users in digital channels and an increased number of calls to the inspectorate’s helpline. Moreover, the evaluation comprised the activity of stakeholders and press publications related to the project. The campaign had a record number of 11.7 million views on the social media channels of the Danish Working Environment Authority. Additionally, the campaign websites recorded 10 thousand visits during the launch phase, and the DWEA’s call centre recorded an increase of phone calls from 2-3 per day to 10-20 per day.