The election to AU’s occupational health and safety organisation will begin soon. The rector encourages all members of the university’s staff to become involved in the election and to consider whether they want to stand for election. Occupational health and safety representative Anne Larson from The Danish School of Education (DPU) explains why she finds her role so important.

2020.11.03 | Signe Schou

[Translate to English:] Foto: Lars Kruse

At Aarhus University, a number of employees are committed to ensuring a good work environment – these employees are the university’s occupational health and safety representatives. They are elected for three years at a time and the next election is held in December and January. Rector Brian Bech Nielsen encourages all members of staff to become involved in the election:

“In short, a good work environment is a prerequisite for well-being at work – and it has a positive effect on performance and the motivation to contribute to the professional community and cooperation with colleagues. This is something that we must nourish and protect, and the occupational health and safety organisation plays a key role in these efforts at AU.”

As rector, Brian Bech Nielsen is also chair of The Main Occupational Health and Safety Committee (HAMU).

“In an organisation as large as ours, a well-functioning occupational health and safety organisation cannot be taken for granted. However, it is my clear impression that the open dialogue we have, for example, in The Main Occupational Health and Safety Committee is based on the fact that we have a coherent and dedicated network of occupational health and safety representatives across the university. It starts with the commitment of the individual occupational health and safety representative, and I would like to express my appreciation for this. It is valuable to all of us every day,” Brian Bech Nielsen adds.

The election is not just about voting for the future occupational health and safety representatives in the beginning of the new year. First, the nomination period begins which means that now is the time to consider whether you want to be a part of the collaboration with local management on creating and developing a good work environment at departments/schools, faculties, centres and administrative units.

How to work with occupational health and safety

Three years ago, Associate Professor Anne Larson made the decision to stand for election as occupational health and safety representative for the academic staff department at The Danish School of Education (DPU) in Emdrup. She was elected and finds her role important in order to ensure the well-being of her colleagues.

“For me, it is basically about ensuring that no one becomes ill or negatively affected physically or psychologically by going to work. I am often contacted by colleagues about issues relating to the physical work environment, and I then present these issues to the management. It is my job to help ensure that problems and solutions are addressed and discussed. An occupational health and safety representative must be a bit stubborn and keep pointing out the issues, even if a solution may cost money/other resources,” Anne Larson says.

She also explains how current matters in society may affect the occupational health and safety representative’s role.

“Currently, employee safety in relation to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat offensive behaviour are some of the specific key areas which I find particularly important to focus on and establish progress in as an occupational health and safety representative.”

There is a wide range of tasks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anne Larson has, for example, worked to ensure sufficient amounts of disinfectant in the classrooms to make it possible for students to disinfect contact surfaces when they leave the room. She has also worked to ensure the right level of information locally about what to do as a result of the new guidelines, and in relation to psychological well-being, she has, among other things, focused on measures to prevent loneliness when working from home.

Consider whether you want to stand for election

In December, the nomination period begins, and in the beginning of the new year, the election will be held. All members of staff, who want to be the voice of their colleagues and want to collaborate with management on creating and developing a good work environment, can stand for election in the department/unit they work in.

Occupational health and safety representatives are elected for three years at a time. All members of staff who have worked at AU for at least nine months are eligible for election.

Facts about the occupational health and safety organisation at AU

The occupational health and safety organisation at AU consists of:

• Occupational health and safety groups (AMG) at departments/schools, centres and administrative divisions
• Local Occupational Health and Safety Committees (LAMU) for each department/school, centre and administrative division
• Faculty Occupational Health and Safety Committees at the faculties (FAMU) and The Administration Occupational Health and Safety Committee (AAMU)
• The Main Occupational Health and Safety Committee (HAMU)

About the election to the occupational health and safety organisation