Here is the ergonomics legislation from
Latvia
The information here was collated from official online sources by Ergo Global ergonomists. All information is for general purposes and cannot be considered 1-to-1 legal advice. Ergo Global disclaim any liability relating to the information provided on this page.
To Note
Latvia does not have a single “ergonomics act,” but ergonomics regulation is integrated into its Labour Protection Law.
In section 2.2.1.3, a citation states that 'home workers have the same benefits and rights as usual workers do', meaning the below regulations also apply to remote workers.
Page last updated: 22/05/2026
The Duties of
The Employer
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Labour Protection Law, Chapter II, Section 5 - Organising a Labour Protection System
(1) In accordance with the general principles of labour protection, an employer has an obligation to organise a labour protection system which includes:
1) internal supervision of the working environment, including evaluation of the working environment risks;
2) establishment of an organisational structure of the labour protection; and
3) consultation with employees in order to involve them in improvement of labour protection.
(2) An employer has an obligation to ensure the functioning of the labour protection system in the undertaking.
(3) Expenditures related to labour protection shall be covered by the employer, as well as in accordance with procedure prescribed by law – from the special budget of occupational accidents. -
Labour Protection Law, Chapter II, Section 8 - Evaluation of the Working Environment Risks
(1) An employer shall evaluate the working environment risks in the following order:
1) determinating the working environment factors which cause or may cause risks to the safety and health of employees;
2) determinating the employees or other persons whose safety and health is subject to working environment risks;
3) evaluating the amount and nature of the working environment risks; and
4) determinating the labour protection measures necessary in order to prevent or reduce the working environment risks.
(2) Evaluation of the working environment risks in an undertaking shall be performed in accordance with each type of activity thereof. If there are similar working conditions, an evaluation of the working environment risks of one workplace or type of work shall be sufficient. The trusted representative or the representative of employees and an employee who is familiar with the relevant workplace shall be involved in the risk evaluation.
(3) When evaluating working environment risks, an employer shall take into account that risks to the safety and health of employees may be caused mainly by:
1) the location and design of workplaces;
2) the choice and use of work equipment;
3) the effect of physical, chemical, psychological, biological, physiological and other working environment factors;
4) the choice and use of working and production methods, as well as the organisation of the course of work and working hours;
5) insufficient professional preparedness and instruction of employees, also in the field of labour protection; and
6) the aggregate of the circumstances referred to in this Paragraph of this Section. -
Regulation No 343, II. - Obligations of Employers
9. Employers shall ensure the conformity of workstations with the requirements set out in Chapter III of these Regulations.
10. The obligations of an employer are as follows:
10.1. to specify the working environment risk factors of a workstation and to evaluate the potential risk to the safety and health of employees, particularly the risk of physical and mental stress;
10.2. to take measures to prevent the risks detected in the evaluation referred to in Subparagraph 10.1 of these Regulations;
10.3. to inform employees or their representatives regarding all measures of labour protection performed at their workplaces, in particular regarding measures taken by the employer in accordance with Sub-paragraphs 10.1 and 10.5 and Paragraph 11 of these Regulations;
10.4. to appropriately train employees before commencing work and each time when the working environment or organisation of work has been significantly changed;
10.5. to plan the work of employees in such a way that the daily work on a display screen is periodically interrupted by breaks or that the nature of the work is changed in order to reduce the sight load, physical and mental load; and
10.6. to consult with employees or their trusted representatives, and representatives of employees regarding the safety and health protection at workplace, as well as to ensure the participation of employees in solving the relevant issues.
11. Employers shall provide employees who work on display screen with mandatory health examinations, including eyesight tests in accordance with the procedures specified in regulatory enactments:
11.1. before commencing display screen work;
11.2. periodic examinations; and
11.3. if an employee complains about visual difficulties which could be caused by display screen work. -
Regulation No 343, III. - Prevention or Reduction of Risk
16. A display screen shall comply with the following requirements:
16.1. the characters on the screen shall be clearly formed, of adequate size and with adequate spacing between characters and lines;
16.2. the image on the screen shall be stable, with no flickering or other forms of instability;
16.3. the brightness and contrast between the characters and the background shall be easily adjustable and adaptable to conditions by an employee;
16.4. the screen shall swivel and tilt easily to suit the needs of the employee;
16.5. the display shall have a separate base or an adjustable table; and
16.6. the screen shall be free of reflective glare and reflection that may cause discomfort to the employee.
17. The keyboard shall comply with the following requirements:
17.1. the keyboard shall be tiltable and separate from the screen and the employee may find a comfortable working position to avoid fatigue in the arms or hands;
17.2. the surface of the keyboard shall have a matt surface and shall prevent reflective glare;
17.3. the arrangement of the keyboard and the keys shall be easy to use; and
17.4. the symbols on the keys shall be sufficiently contrasted and legible.
18. The work desk shall comply with the following requirements:
18.1. the work desk shall have a low-reflectance surface;
18.2. the height of the work desk shall be appropriate to particular features of the body of the employee taking into account the requirements and principles of ergonomics;
18.3. the work desk surface shall be sufficiently large so as the employee may support his or her hands and arms thereon, change the positioning of devices and objects at the workplace, as well as find a comfortable working position;
18.4. the space in front of the keyboard shall be sufficient to provide support for the hands and arms of the employee; and
18.5. the document holder shall be stable and adjustable and shall be positioned so as to minimise the need for uncomfortable head and eye movements.
19. The work chair shall comply with the following requirements:
19.1. the work chair shall be stable and allow the worker freedom of movement and a comfortable position;
19.2. the seat of the work chair shall be adjustable in height;
19.3. the seat back of the work chair shall be adjustable in both height and tilt; and
19.4. each employee shall have a footrest if he or she wishes.
20. The layout of the workroom shall comply with the following requirements:
20.1. the dimensions and design of the workstation shall provide sufficient space for the employee to change the body position and move freely;
20.2. room lighting and workplace lighting shall be sufficient and ensure appropriate contrast between the screen and the background environment, taking into account the type of work and the vision requirements of the employee;
20.3. possible disturbing glare and reflections on the screen or other equipment shall be prevented by co-ordinating the workstation layout with natural lighting, the positioning and technical characteristics of the artificial light sources;
20.4. the sources of light, windows, transparent or translucent walls and brightly coloured fixtures or walls of the workstations shall not cause direct glare and, as far as possible, the reflections on the screen;
20.5. windows shall be fitted with a suitable system of adjustable covering to reduce the daylight that falls on the workstation;
20.6. the noise emitted by equipment of the workstation shall not impede conversation and concentration on the performance of work duties in the workroom;
20.7. the equipment of the workstation shall not emit excess heat that could cause discomfort to the employee;
20.8. all radiation shall be reduced to a level that does not endanger the health of the employee; and
20.9. an adequate level of humidity shall be maintained in the workroom.
21. In designing, selecting, commissioning and modifying software, as well as in determining tasks connected with the use the workstation equipment, the following requirements shall be complied with:
21.1. the software shall be suitable to the performance of the work duties of the employee, and, as far as possible, appropriate to the experience and level of knowledge of the employee;
21.2. it is prohibited to utilise computer programs which control the quality or quantity of work of the employee without prior notification of the employee;
21.3. the software shall ensure the awareness of the employee of the operation of the computer program and the work results;
21.4. information on the display screen shall appear in a form and at a speed acceptable to the employee; and
21.5. the principles of ergonomics shall be complied with, including the ergonomic requirements for the software, in particular if the employee is involved in data processing.
The Duties of
The Employee
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Labour Protection Law Chapter III, Section 17 -Obligations of an Employee
In the field of labour protection, an employee has an obligation to:
1) take care of his or her own safety and health and safety and health of those persons who are affected or may be affected by the work of the employee;
2) use work equipment, dangerous substances, transport and other means of production in accordance with the documentation determined by regulatory enactments (manufacturer's instructions, safety data sheets regarding chemical substances and chemical products, etc.);
3) use collective protective equipment, as well as personal protective equipment given at their disposal in accordance with the documentation determined by regulatory enactments (manufacturer's instructions, safety data sheets regarding chemical substances and chemical products, etc.), and to place the relevant protective equipment following the use thereof in the place provided for it;
4) observe safety signs, as well as to use the safety devices by which the work equipment and workplace is supplied with in accordance with the documentation determined by regulatory enactments (manufacturer's instructions, safety data sheets regarding chemical substances and chemical products, etc.), and to refrain from arbitrarily starting, changing or removing the relevant safety devices;
5) inform immediately the employer, the immediate superior or the labour protection specialist regarding an accident at work, as well as regarding any working environment factors which cause or may cause risks to the safety and health of persons, also regarding shortcomings in the labour protection system of the undertaking;
6) participate in the instruction and training in the field of labour protection organised by the employer;
7) co-operate with the employer or labour protection specialist in order to meet the requirements included in the opinions, warnings, orders or decisions of the State Labour Inspectorate regarding the labour protection system of an undertaking;
8) co-operate with the employer or labour protection specialist in ensuring a safe working environment and working conditions so that risks to the safety and health of employees are not caused; and 9) attend mandatory health examinations in accordance with an order by the employer.
What's next?
Step 1
Run an ergonomics audit following these regulations.
Step 2
List out the gaps in your ergonomics policy.
Step 4
Contact Ergo Global for more support where needed.
