Checklist of employer duties in occupational safety (PDF)
30 duties from the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Occupational Safety Act, DGUV Regulation 1 and the ordinances – with legal basis, threshold, status and owner. For the annual duty check and preparing for visits by authorities.
As of PDFAMS Go editorial team
From the first employee, dozens of duties apply under the German Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Occupational Safety Act, DGUV Regulation 1 and the ordinances. If you go through them systematically once a year, you will find gaps before the employers' liability insurance association or the labour inspectorate does.
The checklist summarises 30 duties with legal basis and threshold – with columns for status, owners and deadlines. It is suitable for the annual check with the occupational safety specialist, for the occupational safety committee meeting and for preparing for visits by authorities.
What the template contains
- PDF in landscape format with 30 duties, legal basis and threshold
- Columns for done, open, not applicable, owner and deadline
- From risk assessment and safety instruction to first aiders, inspections, hazardous substances and health checks to the accident report
How to use the template
- 1
Go through it once a year
Ideally together with the occupational safety specialist or in the occupational safety committee meeting. Record the status of each duty.
- 2
Give gaps a deadline
Every open duty gets an owner and a deadline – and goes into your action plan.
- 3
Keep records ready
For every duty that has been met, a record should be at hand: appointments, instruction records, inspection reports, health check certificates. That is exactly what is requested during inspections.
Legal basis
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG), Occupational Safety Act (ASiG), DGUV Regulations 1 and 2
- Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health, Hazardous Substances Ordinance, Workplaces Ordinance, ArbMedVV, PPE Use Ordinance
- Maternity Protection Act, Youth Employment Protection Act, Social Code Book VII (SGB VII)
Frequently asked questions
From how many employees do the occupational safety duties apply?
Most of them from the first employee – risk assessment, safety instruction, safety specialist and company doctor, first aid, inspections and health checks. Thresholds only exist for a few duties, such as the occupational safety committee from more than 20 employees, safety representatives from 50 (from more than 20 if there are particular hazards) or the break room from more than 10.
Is the checklist complete?
It lists the duties that apply in almost every company. Depending on the industry, others are added – for example under the Biological Agents Ordinance in care, explosion protection in chemicals or the Construction Site Ordinance in construction. Add to it with your occupational safety specialist.
What happens if duties are not met?
Fines of up to €5,000 for violations of ordinances and up to €30,000 for disregarding orders of the authority (Section 25 ArbSchG), up to €10,000 for violations of accident prevention regulations (Section 209 SGB VII). After accidents, recourse claims and criminal consequences are possible.
You may use and adapt the template freely in your own company and for your own clients. It reflects the regulations named as they stand, but does not replace legal advice or adapting it to your own company.
Never search a spreadsheet for a deadline again
In AMS Go, what this template covers lives in one system with reminders, history and records at the push of a button – mobile and with AI support.
