More inspections on the way: The Danish Working Environment Authority intensifies its inspection practices in the construction industry

The Danish Working Environment Authority will take stricter action going forward against construction sites that repeatedly ignore the Authority’s orders and thereby expose employees to serious danger. An intensified inspection may ultimately result in a contractor stop order which means that the contractor and all subcontractors must cease all work at the construction site.

The Danish Working Environment Authority’s current inspection practice 

According to the current practices the Danish Working Environment Authority selects a construction site for an in-depth inspection if the Authority has issued at least five to ten prohibition notices involving significant danger to at least two companies at the site during the two most recent inspection visits within a two-month period.

Intensified inspection practice effective on April 1, 2026 

As of April 1, 2026, the rules determining when a construction site may be selected for an in-depth inspection will change. The relevant period will be increased from two to three months, and the requirement that the notices must be issued during the two most recent inspection visits will be abolished.

These changes are intended to increase the likelihood that construction sites will be selected for in-depth inspections, thereby strengthening occupational health and safety conditions at as many sites as possible. This change is expected to result in more construction sites being subject to intensified inspections.

Such an inspection may ultimately result in a contractor stop order. This means that the contractor must suspend its own work and all subcontractors' activities on the construction site until the identified problems have been resolved. Failure to comply with the suspension order may result in a fine of DKK 100,000.

Littler | Denmark has previously written about contractor stop. You can read more here: 

New Legislation on Contractor Stop at Construction Sites

Littler’s Comments 

The tightening of regulations strengthens the Danish Working Environment Authority’s ability to intervene against contractors who fail to comply with Danish occupational health and safety regulations. 

More construction sites may now be subject to increased inspections, which could ultimately result in a contractor stop order. Therefore, it is essential that developers and main contractors pay close attention to the new rules, as non-compliance may result in significant costs.

Disclaimer: This article is not and cannot replace legal advice.