The Occupational Health Service
The occupational health service (BHT) must, in connection with the systematic HSE work, assist the employer, the employees, working environment committees and safety delegates in preventing work-related health problems, illness and injury, and creating healthy and safe working conditions.
Main content
The occupational heath service (OHS) has a free and independent position in matters of the working environment, and must independently inform the employer, employees and their representatives about risk factors in the workplace. Information and advice must be exclusively based on a professional assessment of the working environment conditions in the business. This applies in all contexts, both as an expert for the business or when following up a single employee.
Assistance in the systematic HSE work
The employer is responsible for ensuring that the working environment is fully responsible. Requirements for the employer's use of the occupational health service are defined in Regulations concerning Organisation, Management and Employee Participation § 13-2. According to the regulations, the occupational health service must, among other things, assist with mapping the working environment, propose and assist with preventive measures, follow up on employees' health when the work situation or risk assessment requires it and assist with facilitation. The units' need for assistance is mapped using UiB's tools for systematic HSE work.
When the risk conditions related to occupational health indicate it, the occupational health service can assist with advice and assessment of health hazards. OHS can assist the unit in connection with HSE risk assessments, preparation of a local HSE plan and follow-up of measures. If the unit ticks "Assistance from the Business Health Service" in the local HSE action plan, then the unit must contact OHS via e-mail bht@uib.no.
OHS can assist in these areas:
HSE risk assessment
Template for local HSE plan
HSE action plan
Work environment survey
The Working Environment Committee
The Akan Committee
Information about the occupational health service's professional areas
- Targeted health examinations
- Travel medicine prior to field trips and research cruises
- Psychosocial and organizational work environment
- Psychological health at work
- Psychological guidance for PhD candidates and Young Scientists
- Ergonomics
- Occupational hygiene risk assessment
- Indoor climate
- Construction cases
- Addiction and substance abuse
- Sick leave follow-up
- Workplace adjustments
Courses by the Occupational Health Service
All courses are available in both Norwegian and English and can be tailored to the individual unit's wishes and needs. Examples of topics include:
Targeted health examinations
- Health and vaccination in connection with work trips/fieldwork
- Infection control in the workplace
Travel medicine prior to field trips and research cruises
- Potential risk factors in fieldwork and cruises, mapping and risk assessment before departure.
Mental health at work
- Learning, stress, coping and thriving; A lecture for PhD-candidates and young scientists
- How to take care of yourself and others in challenging times
- Taking care of yourself as a new arrival
- Thoughts and feelings at work: How our ways of thinking may affect us in the workplace
Ergonomics
- Health-promoting ergonomics in the office
- Health-promoting ergonomics in the home-office
- Health-promoting ergonomics in the laboratory
- Health-promoting ergonomics in dental health care
- Health-promoting ergonomics while doing heavy labour
- E-learning course in office ergonomics
Occupational hygiene / indoor climate
- Proper use of protective equipment
- Indoor climate and occupational health
- Chemical, biological and physical health hazards
- Lab course for new employees
Addiction and substance abuse
- Prevention and follow-up of employees struggling with addiction and substance use.
- Concerned about an employee?
Sick leave follow-up
- How to do sick leave follow-up
- Sickness at work