No occupational safety – Always expensive – Occupational safety – always safe

In a nutshell: Violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

The occupational health and safety law is made more concrete through various occupational health and safety regulations, such as the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV), the Biological Substances Ordinance (BioStoffV) and the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV). In this guide we explain the possible consequences of breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act and provide information about where people can report occupational health and safety breaches.

What happens if occupational health and safety is not observed?

A violation of occupational safety is considered an administrative offense, which can be punished with a fine of up to 30,000 euros in accordance with Section 25 of the ArbSchG. In the event of repeated disregard for the rules or intentional actions that endanger the health or life of an employee, fines or imprisonment of up to one year can also be imposed in accordance with Section 26 of the ArbSchG.

Example: Fine for insufficient documentation of the risk assessment

The catalog of fines for occupational safety provides for a fine of 5,000 euros for an inadequately documented risk assessment. This standard rate may be increased or decreased depending on the circumstances of the infringement. You can find an excerpt from the catalog of fines for occupational safety in the companyhere.

Where can you report occupational health and safety violations?

For detailed information on how to report workplace safety violations, please refer to the relevant information here.

And it's all about cost-effective occupational health and safetyhere!

🌐 Sources

1. komnet.nrw.de – Violations of the reporting obligation
2. haufe.de – Report a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act: Duties…
3. Arbeitsrechte.de – Violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act – What threatens?
4. haufe.de – Instruction and reporting obligation | Osh
5. calima.io – Obligations of employees to cooperate
6. gesetze-im-internet.de – ArbSchG – law on the implementation of measures…