Workplace Safety
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Icelandic Acts of the Althingi, statutory instruments, and official guidance.
Icelandic National Law
What is this right?
Icelandic law places the primary duty for workplace safety on the employer:
- Right to refuse unsafe work: Employees may refuse work that poses immediate and serious danger to life or health (Article 24).
- Employer obligations: Employers must conduct risk assessments, implement preventive measures, provide safety equipment, and inform employees about hazards.
- Safety representatives: Workplaces with 10+ employees must have elected safety representatives (öryggistrúar) who monitor health and safety conditions (Article 15).
- Safety committees: Workplaces with 50+ employees must establish a safety committee with 2 employer-appointed and 2 worker-elected representatives (Article 12).
- Administrative fines: Since January 2025, AOSH can impose administrative fines on employers for repeated violations.
When does it apply?
- You are an employee working in any sector covered by Act No. 46/1980.
- The Act covers nearly all workplaces — including offices, factories, construction sites, and farms.
What should you do?
- If you identify a hazard, report it to your safety representative or employer.
- If your employer does not address the hazard, report it to the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH / Vinnueftirlitið).
- AOSH conducts inspections and can order improvements or halt operations.
- You cannot be penalised for reporting safety concerns or refusing unsafe work.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't ignore safety hazards — report them promptly for your own protection and your coworkers'.
- Don't perform work you believe is immediately dangerous — your right to refuse is protected by law.
- Don't bypass safety equipment or procedures — even if it slows down work.
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