The purpose of drawing up this framework plan was to define joint goals for the operations of occupational safety and health (OSH) divisions and for the development of the operations for a four-year period from 2020 to 2023. The documents taken into account for the objectives of the framework plan include, in particular, the strategy of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, “Policy for the work environment and wellbeing at work 2030” complementing the strategy, Prime Minister Antti Rinne’s Government Programme, and an analysis of the operating environment of working life.

The framework plan defines a vision for the OSH divisions of regional state administrative agencies, and sets common policies and impact objectives for the operations of the divisions for 2020-2023. The vision identifies the most important phenomena affecting the operations of the OSH divisions: working conditions, fragmented working life, strain at work, continuous renewal, as well as information and digitalisation. Concrete measures related to the impact objectives will be agreed on in annual performance agreements.

The traditional field of occupational safety and health – prevention of occupational injuries and diseases and other harm to health at work – still forms the most significant part of OSH divisions’ activities, despite of the changes of working life. The framework plan emphasises the objective to renew the activities and develop them in order to be able to operate as an efficient and effective OSH authority with nationwide operations. When planning and developing the operations, it is necessary to continuously assess the operating environment, to utilise information effectively and to cooperate with external and internal stakeholders. Safeguarding skills development and wellbeing at work for OSH personnel are prerequisites for enforcement that brings results and has impacts.