The Working Environment and Safety in Denmark (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements
About this article
Sourced from Danish Acts of Parliament (love), executive orders (bekendtgørelser), and official government guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
The Working Environment Act places the primary duty on the employer to ensure a healthy and safe working environment:
- Workplace assessment (APV): Every employer must prepare and document a workplace assessment covering physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial risks.
- Safety organisation: Workplaces with 10 or more employees must set up a working-environment organisation with elected health-and-safety representatives.
- Training: The employer must provide adequate safety training before employees begin hazardous work.
- Right to refuse dangerous work: You can refuse work that poses an immediate and serious danger to life or health.
- Enforcement: Arbejdstilsynet supervises and can issue orders, fines or shut down operations.
When does it apply?
- You are employed at a workplace in Denmark — the Act applies to all sectors.
- Special rules apply to construction, offshore, aviation and shipping.
- The psychosocial working environment (stress, bullying, harassment) is covered on an equal footing with physical hazards.
What to do if your workplace has unsafe conditions
- Report risks to your health-and-safety representative or the working-environment organisation at your workplace.
- If the problem is not resolved, contact Arbejdstilsynet — you can complain online or by phone.
- You have the right to refuse dangerous work if it poses an immediate and serious danger — inform your manager immediately.
- Report workplace accidents to your employer, who must in turn report serious injuries to Arbejdstilsynet within 9 days.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't ignore risks — you have a statutory duty to cooperate with the employer on safety.
- Don't fear retaliation — dismissal for reporting safety problems is regarded as unfair under Danish law.
- Don't skip the APV if you are an employer — a missing, up-to-date workplace assessment can trigger fines.
About Employment Law & Working Conditions in Denmark
Your work in Denmark rests on the so-called flexicurity model — there is no statutory minimum wage, but collective agreements (overenskomster) at sector level cover around 80% of employees. Ferieloven (the Holiday Act) gives you 25 days of paid holiday a year, accrued monthly. Salaried employees (funktionærer) have enhanced notice periods and protection against unfair dismissal under funktionærloven (the Salaried Employees Act). The working environment is governed by arbejdsmiljøloven (the Working Environment Act), enforced by Arbejdstilsynet. Collective-agreement disputes are heard by Arbejdsretten (the Labour Court); individual cases are heard by the ordinary courts.
Common Questions
What working-environment duties do Danish employers have?
Under the Working Environment Act, the employer must ensure a safe and healthy working environment. This means preparing and documenting a workplace assessment (APV) covering physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial risks, providing training before hazardous work and — at workplaces with 10 or more employees — setting up a working-environment organisation with elected health-and-safety representatives.
Can I refuse dangerous work in Denmark?
Yes. You can refuse work that poses an immediate and serious danger to life or health. Inform your manager immediately. Dismissal for reporting safety problems is regarded as unfair under Danish law, so you need not fear retaliation. Psychosocial risks such as stress, bullying and harassment are covered on an equal footing with physical hazards.
How do I report unsafe conditions at the workplace in Denmark?
Report risks first to your health-and-safety representative or the working-environment organisation. If the problem is not resolved, contact Arbejdstilsynet — you can complain online or by phone. Arbejdstilsynet can supervise, issue orders or fines, or shut down operations. Serious injuries must be reported within 9 days.
What is the the working environment and safety right in Denmark?
The Working Environment Act places the primary duty on the employer to ensure a healthy and safe working environment:Workplace assessment (APV): Every employer must prepare and document a workplace assessment covering physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial risks.Safety organisation: Workplaces with 10 or more employees must set up a working-environment organisation with elected health-and-safety representatives.Training: The employer must provide adequate safety training before employees begin hazardous work.Right to refuse dangerous work: You can refuse work that poses an...
When does it apply — the working environment and safety?
You are employed at a workplace in Denmark — the Act applies to all sectors.Special rules apply to construction, offshore, aviation and shipping.The psychosocial working environment (stress, bullying, harassment) is covered on an equal footing with physical hazards.
What do I do if my employer ignores dangerous working conditions?
Report risks to your health-and-safety representative or the working-environment organisation at your workplace.If the problem is not resolved, contact Arbejdstilsynet — you can complain online or by phone.You have the right to refuse dangerous work if it poses an immediate and serious danger — inform your manager immediately.Report workplace accidents to your employer, who must in turn report serious injuries to Arbejdstilsynet within 9 days.
What should you NOT do — the working environment and safety?
Don't ignore risks — you have a statutory duty to cooperate with the employer on safety.Don't fear retaliation — dismissal for reporting safety problems is regarded as unfair under Danish law.Don't skip the APV if you are an employer — a missing, up-to-date workplace assessment can trigger fines.