Faroe Islands to tighten workplace safety regulations after fatal accident

The Faroese government will introduce stricter safety rules for workplaces following a fatal industrial accident last week, labour minister Margit Stórá announced Wednesday.

Speaking to public broadcaster KVF, Stórá confirmed that new regulations—long in development—will impose tougher requirements for heavy machinery operation, including forklifts, trucks, and cranes. “We must set ourselves the goal of zero accidents,” she stated.

The Faroe Islands records significantly more workplace fatalities than neighbouring Nordic countries, with death rates nearly seven times higher than Iceland’s and three times those of Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. Last December, Stórá had already signalled plans for tighter controls on large equipment use, though the finalised rules have yet to be published.