English

The Norwegian Industrial Safety Organisation’s (NSO) main duty is to scrutinise enterprises obliged by law to implement industrial safety systems. The NSO is an inspectorate designated by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security pursuant to Section 23 of the Civil Protection Act and the Regulations on Industrial Safety.

The NSO operates as an independent organisation funded by an industrial safety levy collected annually from enterprises liable to implement such industrial safety systems. The board of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise sets the size of the levy and approves the NSO’s operating plans and budgets. The Directorate for Civil Protection evaluates the supervisory role of the NSO by way of annual letters of expectation. The letters set overarching frameworks and targets for the NSO’s operations. The director of the NSO reports to a board made up of representatives from industry and the Federation of Norwegian Industries. The NSO reports to the Directorate for Civil Protection and to the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise.

The enterprise should first carry out a risk assessment and identify potential incidents that may occur on its premises. These findings are then used to determine how to organise, equip and train its in-house industrial safety team. If an incident occurs, the alarm is raised in accordance with the emergency plan and notification lists internally, with the emergency services and with other affected parties (neighbours, the local authority) where appropriate.

The industrial safety organisation acts quickly using the appropriate first-line response to protect lives and health. The team will also make efforts to save environmental and material assets – i.e. their own workplace. They will also consult with the emergency services and act as on-site guides and advisors during the ongoing rescue operation.

The legal basis for the industrial safety levy can be found in Section 19 of the Regulations Relating to Industrial Safety and Emergency Preparedness, cf. Section 30 of the Civil Protection Act.

Please note: Since the industrial safety levy is imposed by regulation (Industrial Safety Regulations, Section 19) it is considered a public charge. The Norwegian Industrial Safety Organisation collects the levy without the use of purchase orders or other references. The invoice the Norwegian Industrial Safety Organisation sends constitutes an order to make payment, cf. Section 34 of the Civil Protection Act. Daily penalties will be imposed if the invoice amount is not paid by the due date, cf. Section 35 of the Civil Protection Act. The industrial safety levy is tax-deductible.