Health and safety at work
All employers must create conditions ensuring the health and safety of their employees. Recommendations and a reminder of the standards to be respected.
All employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. Employees must be able to work in appropriate, safe premises. In the case of specific risks, the employer must provide protective equipment suitable for the risks involved, in order to prevent any accident or illness (for example, people handling toxic substances must be equipped with suitable masks and gloves). The laws on health and safety at work also serve to protect employees from the risks of overworking or from breach of a person’s rights.
The website of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) offers a great deal of information and advice about employment law. This section of the SME Portal summarizes the key points. It also provides links to the SECO website pages that deal with each subject in detail.
Learn more
Think about fitting out premises
A company boss must comply with standards currently in force in Switzerland regarding the fitting out of work premises.
Leadership Lab: a portal to assess your company's needs
The Leadership Lab, a new campaign launched by five occupational health and safety organizations, raises awareness about these issues in small companies.
The various types of personal protective equipment
Personal equipment may be necessary to effectively protect employees’ health.
Adjusting work stations and workloads
Appropriate workloads and carefully planned installation of equipment: useful ways of preventing stress and accidents.
Health and safety at work
Apart from mandatory insurance, the employer must make sure that it offers a workplace that respects the needs of its employees.
Protection of a person’s rights, harassment and mobbing: The employer's obligations
It is up to an employer to protect its employees from physical, sexual and psychological harassment at work. A zero-tolerance approach is required.
Prevention of work accidents and occupational illness: strict requirements
In terms of the prevention of accidents and illness at work, the employer should leave nothing to chance.
Protection of groups facing particular risks
On account of their age or health, some workers require particular attention or a reduced workload.
Further information
Documents, statistics, forms and contact with workplace health and safety experts.
The benefits of promoting health within a company
Promoting health within a company guarantees greater personal investment by employees.
First-aid equipment: easy access at all times
First-aid equipment must be easily accessible in any company. The equipment involved may vary depending on the business sector.