Between Control and Collaboration: Transport safety inspectorates in Norway

Over the last couple of decades, the organisation of supervision and management models for safety work across the Norwegian transport sectors have become more homogeneous, partly as a response to changes in the transport markets, and partly as a reflection of shifting trends in public management and the need for public control of deregulated and diversified operating units. After the establishment of the Norwegian Road Supervisory Authority in 2012, all transport branches now have some form of inspectorate. There are very marked differences between the Norwegian transport safety inspectorates, both in terms of size, organisation and tasks. This report reviews and compares operators’ experiences with the transport inspectorates, and discusses issues such as agencification, accountability and safety culture in relation to inspectorates.