Not just in the workplace: Know and use contact persons for occupational health and safety
Safety and health at work are not a given – they are the result of a network of responsibilities, expertise, and effective communication. In the German occupational health and safety system, there are numerous individuals and bodies that support employees, both within and outside the company. Knowing who to contact in any given situation provides better protection – and enables employees to contribute to protecting others as well.
This article introduces the key contacts and committees in occupational health and safety: from in-house experts to company doctors and the employers' liability insurance association as an external support structure. It also explains how employees can report hazards, contribute improvement ideas, and take the right action in sensitive situations.
The occupational safety specialist: Expert for safe workplaces
The occupational safety specialist – often abbreviated as Sifa – is the central expert in the company responsible for preventing accidents and work-related health hazards. They analyze workplaces, identify risks – such as unsafe machinery or tripping hazards – and advise employers on implementing protective measures.
At the same time, the Sifa serves as a point of contact for all employees: anyone who notices an unsafe situation or has questions about safely performing a task can and should approach them directly. They also support the preparation and implementation of safety training sessions.
The company doctor: Confidential advice and medical expertise
The company doctor is the medical professional in the company. Their role is to protect and promote the health of employees through preventive examinations, advice on work-related complaints, and assessing hazards in the workplace. They work closely with the occupational safety specialist.
A key feature of occupational medical advice is its confidentiality: anything discussed with the company doctor is subject to medical confidentiality. Information cannot be passed on to the company without the explicit consent of the person concerned. Employees can therefore openly discuss health-related burdens or complaints without fear of consequences.
Managers, works councils, and occupational health and safety committees: Internal structure with clear roles
In addition to experts, there are other important contacts within the company. Managers are the first point of contact for specific workplace issues – whether it’s a hazardous situation, a health limitation, or a request for work simplification. They are responsible for ensuring work is carried out safely and are obliged to take any concerns seriously.
The works council represents employees' interests and can be involved in matters related to working conditions, safety, or health – even if direct discussions with management are not possible or not desired. In larger companies, the occupational health and safety committee complements these structures: it discusses hazards in the workplace collectively and develops solutions.
Employees who feel unheard in the company also have the option of contacting the responsible occupational health and safety authority anonymously.
Workplace integration management: Support after long-term illness
Employees who have been off sick for a long time or repeatedly are entitled to support through Workplace Integration Management (BEM). As part of the BEM process, the affected person, the company, and, if applicable, the works council jointly examine how a return to work can be achieved – through adapted tasks, modified working hours, or other measures. Some companies also offer additional external health advice via so-called Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
The employers' liability insurance association: Cross-company protection in the event of accidents and occupational diseases
Employers' liability insurance associations are the statutory accident insurance providers in Germany. They are organized by industry – from the administrative professions' association to the BG for electrical, textile, energy and media industries, and the BG for raw materials and chemical industries – and have two core tasks: prevention and rehabilitation.
In the area of prevention, they monitor whether companies comply with occupational health and safety regulations, advise employers and employees, and offer training sessions. In the event of an accident or occupational disease, they cover the costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and, if necessary, further support measures.
For employees, the employers' liability insurance association is also an important source of information: their websites and the DGUV provide free, reliable materials on safety and health protection at work.
Taking the right action in an emergency: Reporting workplace accidents and seeking help
In the event of a workplace accident, the following applies: report it immediately. The affected person informs their manager or a colleague – the company then reports the accident to the responsible employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance provider. Medical treatment is provided by a so-called trauma surgeon, who specializes in work and commuting accidents and decides on the treatment procedure.
Important: Even minor accidents without visible injuries should be reported – some consequences only become apparent later. Recording the incident in the accident book by a first aider or manager provides proof. All costs for treatment and rehabilitation in the case of a recognized workplace accident are covered by the statutory accident insurance – employees do not have to pay anything themselves.
Employees can find the nearest trauma surgeon using the DGUV database search (DIVA-online). The company also provides information on the agreed emergency procedures.
Contributing improvement ideas: Shaping safety culture through participation
Employees often know their workplace better than any external expert. Improvement ideas – whether about processes, tools, or safety measures – are therefore a valuable contribution to workplace prevention. They can be submitted directly to management, via the works council, or – if available – through the occupational health and safety committee.
All employees have the right to make suggestions – regardless of their contract type or position. In some companies, good improvement ideas are even rewarded. The key point is: ideas that reduce stress, simplify processes, or minimize hazards should not be withheld.
Colleagues under the influence: Acting out of shared responsibility
Alcohol or other intoxicants at the workplace are not just a personal issue – they endanger the safety of everyone. Anyone who notices a colleague arriving at work or becoming intoxicated during work bears a shared responsibility for what may follow.
The right course of action is to act calmly and discreetly, describe the observed behavior factually, and report the situation to management or a trusted person in the company. The aim is not to judge or control – but to prevent accidents and help the person involved. Employers have a duty of care and are obliged to act as soon as a hazard is identified.
This situation exemplifies how the various contacts in occupational health and safety work together: management takes action, the company doctor can provide advisory support, the works council can mediate – and together, they all help ensure the workplace remains a safe environment.
Collaboration of stakeholders: Protection through networking
Occupational health and safety is not a solo effort. Its effectiveness comes from the collaboration of internal and external stakeholders – from the occupational safety specialist and company doctor to the works council and the employers' liability insurance association. Employees who know who to contact in any given situation can actively use this system to protect their own health and the safety of everyone in the workplace. The following individual articles provide detailed information and practical guidance for each contact person and topic area.
Comprehensive sources
1. German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) – Occupational Safety Specialist:https://www.dguv.de/de/praevention/aus-weiterbildung/fasi/index.jsp
Tasks of the occupational safety specialist in the company, qualifications, and legal framework
2. DGUV – Occupational Safety and Health Protection in the Workplace:https://www.dguv.de/de/ihr_partner/unternehmen/arbeitssicherheit
In-house contacts, company doctors, occupational safety specialists, and internal structures
3. DGUV – Employers' Liability Insurance Associations and Accident Insurance Funds:https://www.dguv.de/de/bg-uk-lv/bgen/index.jsp
Overview of employers' liability insurance associations by industry, benefits in the event of workplace accidents and occupational diseases
4. Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) – Statutory Accident Insurance:https://www.bmas.de/DE/Soziales/Gesetzliche-Unfallversicherung/gesetzliche-unfallversicherung.html
Accident insurance coverage, reporting obligations, prevention, and rehabilitation
5. Federal Association for Rehabilitation (BAR) – BEM Compass: Workplace Integration Management:https://www.bar-frankfurt.de/themen/arbeitsleben/betriebliches-eingliederungsmanagement/bem-kompass
Processes, rights, and support options in BEM following long-term illness
6. German Centre for Addiction Issues (DHS) – Alcohol in the Workplace:https://www.dhs.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/Broschueren/Flyer_Alkohol-am-Abeitsplatz.pdf
Duties of employees and employers, recommendations for action in cases of addiction issues in the workplace