Who monitors?

The operational implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act is monitored by the supervisory personnel of the competent supervisory authorities and the accident insurance institutions.

The government supervisory authorities' inspection duty is rooted in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, section 21 subs. 1. According to this it is a government function to inspect occupational safety and health. The supreme authorities in the federal states (ministries) therefore normally delegate to subordinate authorities (labour inspectorate, Office for Occupational Safety and Health, State Authority for Occupational Safety and Health, etc.).

On account of their autonomous right to make byelaws, the accident insurance institutions are also responsible for the occupational safety and health in their member establishments. BGV A1 refers in section 3 to section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. According to this the accident insurance institutions can also monitor the implementation of the risk assessment in the companies.

The competent authorities of the federal states and the statutory accident insurance institutions collaborate closely in the monitoring function and promote an exchange of experience. They keep one another informed of company visits conducted and the major results.

The monitoring conducted by supervisory personnel proceeds within the framework of their material and territorial competence as fixed in laws, ordinances or administrative regulations in establishments and at workplaces outside establishments. Where danger threatens they can adopt immediately enforceable orders to ward off work-related dangers to life and health. The result may be, among other things, the shut-down of the item of work equipment or installations concerned.