Many construction crews work on sites in more than one Nordic country. The basic principle is the same in all four countries: collective safety measures come first, and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used when a risk cannot be removed in another way. The employer must provide PPE free of charge and make sure it is used, and all PPE must be CE-marked under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. What differs is the national regulation, the site ID card and the details that main contractors write into their site rules. This page compares the construction site PPE requirements in the Nordic countries side by side.
Detailed country guides: Finland · Sweden · Norway · Denmark
Scandinavia construction safety rules: PPE requirements at a glance
|
Finland |
Sweden |
Norway |
Denmark |
| Authority & main PPE regulation |
Occupational safety authority at the Finnish Permit and Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto, työsuojelu; until 2025 AVI); Occupational Safety and Health Act 738/2002, VNa 205/2009 |
Arbetsmiljöverket; AFS 2023:11 (safe use of PPE), AFS 2023:3, AFS 2023:13 (since 1 Jan 2025) |
Arbeidstilsynet; regulation on organisation, management and participation, chapter 15 (personlig verneutstyr) |
Arbejdstilsynet; Executive Order no. 1706 of 2010 on personlige værnemidler (amended 2013, 2022, 2024) |
| Site ID card |
Valttikortti (Valtti card) with veronumero (tax number), section 52 a |
ID06 / ID06-kort + personalliggare (staff register, since 2016) — used for check-in on almost all sites |
HMS-kort, mandatory for everyone and worn visibly — also for EU/EEA companies |
No national card; some main contractors use their own access cards |
| Helmet |
Always on site, EN 397 |
EN 397 with chin strap fastened (main contractors' rules) |
Required by contractors; e.g. Oslobygg: helmet max. 3 years old |
Arbejdstilsynet has refused exemptions from helmet use; large contractors require helmet for everyone |
| Hi-vis minimum |
Huomiovaatteet class 2 — many sites expect a jacket or shirt, not only a huomioliivi |
Varselkläder class 2 is the common minimum on sites with vehicle traffic (risk assessment) |
Synlighetsklær class 2 for workers and visitors (Oslobygg); a vest is not accepted as work clothing |
Synlighedsbeklædning set by the main contractor's site rules — check whether a refleksvest is enough |
| Road / rail hi-vis |
Class 3 |
Trafikverket: class 3 for road works |
Road works: class 3 upper body; Bane NOR: class 2 more than 2.5 m from the track, more inside |
Banedanmark has its own rules for reflective clothing |
| Safety boots |
S3 turvakengät (toe cap + puncture-resistant sole) |
Skyddsskor with toe cap and anti-perforation midsole |
Vernesko with toe cap and nail protection; no clogs on road works |
Sikkerhedssko when objects can fall on the foot; puncture-resistant sole where sharp objects are a risk |
| Who pays |
Employer, free of charge |
Employer, free of charge |
Employer — the employee shall not pay |
Employer pays purchase, maintenance and cleaning and owns the PPE |
| Language of instructions |
Finnish / Swedish |
Swedish |
Norwegian, plus declaration of conformity |
Danish |
Working across borders: one kit that passes everywhere
If your crew moves between countries, it is cheaper to buy one kit that meets the strictest typical site rules than to re-equip at every border. This set covers the typical site rules in the table above:
| Item |
Typical requirement |
Standard |
| Safety helmet |
With chin strap; check the manufacture date (Oslobygg: max. 3 years) |
EN 397 |
| Hi-vis jacket + trousers |
Class 2 jacket and class 2 trousers; class 3 combined only if the manufacturer certifies the combination |
EN ISO 20471 |
| Safety boots |
S3: toe cap and puncture-resistant sole |
EN ISO 20345 |
| Safety glasses |
Mandatory for everyone e.g. on Oslobygg sites in Norway and NCC sites in Denmark |
EN 166 |
| Gloves |
Cut level B or higher (Oslobygg requires at least level 2 / "B") |
EN 388 |
Add hearing protection (EN 352) and respiratory protection (EN 149) where the task requires them, and choose a hi-vis jacket rather than a vest: Oslobygg in Norway does not accept a vest as work clothing.
Get the ID card before day one
A missing card can stop a worker at the gate even with perfect kit. Sort it out before the crew travels:
-
Finland: tax number (veronumero) and a photo ID card showing it, usually the Valttikortti.
-
Sweden: ID06 card so the worker can check in to the personalliggare. Without ID06 or pre-registration you can be refused entry.
-
Norway: HMS-kort for every worker, including those employed by foreign EU/EEA companies. Workers without a valid card can be sent off site.
-
Denmark: no national card — ask the main contractor about their own access card and registration.
Typical mistakes when changing country
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Assuming the law is the whole story. Site rules (SHA-plan, ordnings- och skyddsregler) are usually stricter than the law.
-
Hi-vis trousers only. Trousers alone can reach at most class 2 — not enough for road works.
-
Instructions in the wrong language. PPE must come with user instructions in the local language.
Put together the kit
Browse safety helmets, hi-vis workwear, S3 safety boots, safety glasses and work gloves, or order a full set per worker with the workwear kit builder. Background reading: hi-vis classes explained, S1P vs S3 vs S3S boots and, for companies buying for crews, VAT 0% reverse charge.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always check the site rules of the main contractor before the first day on site.
