Many people wonder what rules apply to safety representatives and chief safety representatives when it comes to confidentiality. This is an important topic, as they often have access to both sensitive information and personal data in connection with their duties.
When confidentiality does not apply
Safety representatives and chief safety representatives have a duty to inform management if situations arise that could have serious consequences for the working environment. Examples of this are:
- Danger to life and health
- Harassment or discrimination
- Injury or illness in the workplace
In such cases, information should be shared internally to ensure that necessary measures can be taken, even if the information would otherwise be subject to confidentiality.
When confidentiality applies
Any other information that the safety representative and chief safety representative become aware of is subject to a duty of confidentiality. This includes, among other things:
- Information of a personal or private nature
- Trade secrets or sensitive data that can be used by others, such as technical solutions, production methods, analyses or calculations
The duty of confidentiality means that the safety representative cannot disclose the information without the consent of the person concerned, unless it is necessary to prevent a risk to life, health or safety.
Summary
Safety representatives and chief safety representatives balance the need to protect sensitive information and ensure a safe working environment. The main rule is that confidentiality applies to private and business-related information, but not when sharing information is necessary to prevent harm or danger in the workplace.
