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About the NFA

The NFA is an independent public sector research institution which comes under the Danish Ministry of Employment, and the largest research institution in the field of occupational health and safety (OSH) in Denmark. We value professionalism and innovation highly, and are recognised both nationally and internationally for conducting research at the highest international level. We publish almost 200 scientific publications annually. Around 70 per cent of these appear in leading journals that are relevant to the NFA's areas of research.


The NFA's knowledge regarding the OSH  includes our:

  • Psychological Working Environment 
  • Physical Working Environment 
  • Chemistry and Microbiology in the Working Environment
  • Safety and Accidents 
  • Economics of our working environment 

The NFA also carries out research into seniors’ and young people's working environment.

We carry out research that is relevant and applicable

Much of our research is conducted in close collaboration with workplaces, professional organisations, the authorities and other relevant stakeholders. The collaboration starts with the development of a new research project, and continues until the project is completed and the results are communicated, so as to enable them to be used to improve the working environment.

It is crucial to us that our knowledge contributes to the development of healthy and safe working places in Denmark. The NFA’s knowledge must therefore be relevant and usable at all levels, from professional and working environment organisations, to consultants, authorities and politicians at Christiansborg.

We collaborate nationally and internationally

We collaborate with competent colleagues in Denmark and abroad, who carry out research into many similar working environment issues. In fact, around 90% of our research is conducted in collaboration with other research institutions. In addition, we supply new knowledge to the international regulation of the working environment - for example, to the EU's regulation of chemical substances in the working environment, and the World Health Organization's classification of harmful substances.

The NFA is financed through a basic grant under the Finance Act, grants from public and private foundations, research programmes funded by the EU, and income-generating activities.