Duties & fines
Occupational Safety Duties & Fines
Which occupational safety duties does your company have – and what does it cost to neglect them? Occupational physician, safety specialist, risk assessment and instruction: the obligations, the fines under ArbSchG and how to become compliant in Berlin.
Occupational safety is not optional but a legal duty – from your very first employee. If a required measure is missing, the risk is not only accidents but fines, personal liability of management and, in the worst case, criminal consequences. The good news: with the right support you are on the safe side – we take care of it for you.
What it costs when duties are missing
up to €5,000
fine per violation – e.g. a missing or inadequate risk assessment, instruction or documentation (§ 25 ArbSchG)
up to €30,000
fine for ignoring an enforceable order from the supervisory authority (§ 25 ArbSchG)
imprisonment
up to 1 year or a fine for intentionally endangering life and health (§ 26 ArbSchG)
Legal basis & liability
The amounts derive from the Arbeitsschutzgesetz (ArbSchG) (the German Occupational Safety and Health Act); the exact figure is set by the responsible authority on a case-by-case basis (in Berlin the LAGetSi – the State Office for Occupational Safety, Health Protection and Technical Safety). Management is personally responsible – this duty cannot be delegated away, though its professional implementation can.
Duties (almost) every company has
Regardless of sector and size, employers in Germany have, among others, these basic duties – all of which we take on or support for you:
- Appoint occupational health care (ASiG, DGUV Vorschrift 2) – from the very first employee
- Appoint an occupational safety specialist (ASiG, DGUV Vorschrift 2)
- Prepare and document a risk assessment (ArbSchG § 5 and § 6)
- Instruct employees regularly (ArbSchG § 12)
- Appoint safety officers (from 21 employees, DGUV Vorschrift 1)
- Train fire safety and first-aid assistants (ASR A2.2, DGUV Vorschrift 1)
Where it most often goes wrong in practice
Typical gaps
- Risk assessment outdated or never prepared
- Instructions not documented
- No occupational physician / safety specialist appointed
- No fire safety assistants named
The risk
- Fine on inspection by LAGetSi or the accident insurer
- Personal liability of management
- Recourse claims from the accident insurer after an incident
- Business interruption in the event of damage
How you become compliant – with no effort on your part
- 1
Take stock
We check which duties apply to your company and where gaps exist – free of charge as part of the quote.
- 2
Appointment & support
We take on the occupational health and safety engineering support, prepare the risk assessment and train your appointed officers.
- 3
Documentation & proof
Everything documented audit-proof – digitally via our platform, ready to show authorities and insurers at any time.
More than ticking boxes: holistic occupational safety
We create clarity about your duties and support you in implementing all compliance measures. But it is about more than avoiding liability risks and fines: together we ensure holistic occupational safety – for a healthy, productive working climate and employees who stay healthy.
Instead of expensive stand-alone catalogues or software you have to operate yourself, BESTMED 360 delivers everything from a single source – occupational medicine in Berlin since 1989, with a fixed contact person. This turns mere compliance into a real gain for your company: we find solutions for all your needs.
Medically reviewed by Vladimir Dorn, Chief Occupational Physician · as of August 2026