Work risk categorisation

What it means

Work risk categorisation means assigning work activities to one of four categories according to the level of health risk they involve. Factors assessed include noise, vibration, dust, chemical and biological agents, physical and mental workload, and work in heat or cold.

Category 1 covers work with no expected adverse effect on health, such as ordinary office work. Category 2 means a moderate risk below the limits. Categories 3 and 4 are risk work, where limits are exceeded or there is a threat of serious harm to health.

Category 3 and 4 risk work is designated by a decision of the regional public health authority on the employer's proposal. The employer classifies category 1 and 2 work itself, usually on the basis of an assessment by the occupational health service.

How it works in practice

The basis is a workplace risk assessment and, where needed, measurement of factors at the workplace, such as noise or dust levels. The result is recorded in the health and safety documentation and should be reviewed whenever technology, premises or working methods change.

The employer's duties depend on the category. From category 2 upwards it must arrange supervision by the occupational health service and preventive medical checks at set intervals, and for risk work it must also keep records of exposed employees and report them regularly to the authority.

Risk should be reduced first through technical and organisational measures, such as extraction, noise enclosures or job rotation. Personal protective equipment is the last resort, used when the risk cannot be removed in any other way.

What to watch out for

If an employer fails to categorise work or does so incorrectly and an employee falls ill, it faces a fine from the public health authority and liability for occupational disease. With noise, vibration or chemicals it is worth having measurements done by specialists and keeping the results.

Special restrictions apply to risk work for certain groups, such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and minors, who may not work in such jobs. When hiring or reassigning staff, the work category must be taken into account in the employment contract and the medical check.