Danish Working Environment Act §15a (APV)
Every Danish employer must carry out a written workplace risk assessment (APV). See the requirements of §15a of the Working Environment Act, deadlines and what the Danish WEA inspects.
Who is covered?
Every employer in Denmark with employees must prepare a written workplace risk assessment — the *arbejdspladsvurdering* (APV) — regardless of industry or size. The duty follows from §15a of the Danish Working Environment Act (arbejdsmiljøloven) and applies from the first employee.
Only businesses with no employees at all are exempt.
What do the rules require?
What §15a requires
- The APV must be in writing — on paper or digital — and accessible to management, employees and the Danish Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet)
- It must map the company's working environment risks — physical, ergonomic, chemical and psychosocial
- Issues that cannot be fixed immediately go into an action plan with priorities and deadlines
- A plan for following up on the action plan — who does what, and when
- Sickness absence must be considered: do working conditions contribute to absence?
- Employees must be involved throughout — via the working environment organisation (AMO) in companies with 10+ employees
- The APV must be revised at least every 3 years, and whenever changes affect the working environment
The method is free — no mandatory forms, as long as the content is covered.
Deadlines and sanctions
Deadlines and sanctions
- Revision at least every 3 years — and whenever work, methods or processes change
- A missing or inadequate APV is typically discovered during an inspection and triggers an improvement notice with a deadline
- Failure to comply — or having no APV at all — can be punished with a fine
- A missing APV also affects the company's standing in the authority's inspection scheme
How to comply with Verkta
Verkta's risk assessment module guides you through mapping, risk assessment, action plan and follow-up in one flow, covering every element of §15a. Employees are involved through anonymous questionnaires in their own language, and sickness absence is a built-in topic. The system automatically reminds you of the 3-year revision deadline and of action plan due dates. Everything is documented in one place, ready to present at an inspection.
Frequently asked questions
›We only have 3 employees — do we really need an APV?
Yes. The APV duty applies to all employers with staff, even a single employee. The format is flexible, so a small company can keep the APV short and simple.
›Do we have to submit the APV to the authorities?
No. It is not filed anywhere, but it must be available to your employees and presentable if the Danish Working Environment Authority carries out an inspection.
›How often must the APV be updated?
At least every 3 years — and additionally whenever changes in work, methods or processes affect the working environment, e.g. relocation, new machinery or reorganisation.