Communication

Safety Investigation Authority Finland has a statutory duty to provide information on its investigations and their progress. It is especially important to keep injured parties, the next of kin and others close to victims, the authorities that participated in the rescue operation and those otherwise affected by the accident informed of the investigation's progress. Likewise, representatives of the labour market organisations must be informed if the accident was work-related.

Safety Investigation Authority Finland’s communications have several dimensions and audiences, including external communications, media communications, and communications to next of kin and stakeholders. The Authority’s communication principles are openness and the absolute reliability of the information contained in its releases. The head of the investigation is responsible for communications during the investigation. Safety Investigation Authority Finland's investigation reports are always public and published on the Authority’s website.

Under the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999)Avautuu uuteen välilehteen, authorities have a duty to produce and disseminate information, publicize their operations, and produce publications and other information materials.

defines government communications and their arrangement as follows: [t]he authority shall ensure that the prerequisites for communication have been secured in order to achieve openness in the authority’s activity. For this purpose particular care shall be taken that:

1. the ability of those responsible for public information to obtain information at a sufficiently early stage on matters coming to the authority, matters pending before the authority and other matters requiring communication is secured;
2. the co-operation between those attending to communication duties has been properly arranged;
3. officials responsible for presentation and preparation have been sufficiently trained and instructed on how to participate in the planning and implementation of communication.