Germany Lowers Threshold for Mandatory Safety Officers as Flexible Models and New Professions Join the Framework
04.06.2026 - 08:05:23 | boerse-global.de
A major overhaul of Germany's occupational safety regulations took effect on 1 June 2026, lowering the bar for mandatory safety services and introducing flexible alternatives to fixed on-site hours. The updated DGUV-Regel 2 — the statutory rule governing the deployment of company doctors and safety specialists — now applies to businesses with as few as 20 employees, down from the previous threshold of ten.
Until 31 May 2027, firms have a transition period to adapt. The most consequential shift is the abandonment of rigid attendance requirements: employers can now plan coverage more freely. Digital support tools are permitted for up to one-third of the mandated care time, provided a physical initial inspection of the workplace has already been conducted.
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New professions can now qualify as safety specialists
The professional profile for safety officers has broadened significantly. Alongside engineers and technicians, work and organisational psychologists, biologists, occupational hygienists and ergonomics experts may now undergo the required training. Medical doctors are also eligible. To maintain certification, both company doctors and safety specialists must submit annual proof of continuing education, ensuring advice stays current with scientific and technical developments.
A parallel change to §22 SGB VII (Book Seven of the Social Code) came into force on 29 May 2026, following a Bundestag vote on 26 March. It sets new thresholds for appointing safety representatives:
- Fewer than 20 employees: No general obligation to appoint a representative
- 20 to 49 employees: Only required if specific hazards exist
- 50 to 250 employees: At least one safety representative
- More than 250 employees: The criteria of DGUV regulation 1 apply
Failure to comply carries fines of up to €10,000. Industry experts, however, advise companies that already have safety representatives to keep them even if the new thresholds no longer require it — since an update of DGUV regulation 1 is still pending.
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Demand for safety experts remains high across sectors
Current job postings reflect sustained demand. Companies such as the AGRAVIS subsidiary VERAVIS and ASITEC are actively recruiting specialists for northern Germany. Typical tasks include advising on workplace and equipment safety, conducting risk assessments, fire protection, storage of hazardous substances, dangerous-goods transport and immission control.
A growing emphasis is being placed on psychological strain at the workplace. At a digital forum held in early June, experts stressed that mental health assessments should focus on working conditions rather than individual employees.
Political momentum for broader reform
Further legislative changes are on the horizon. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state cabinet has approved a proposal by Social Minister Stefanie Drese aimed at a comprehensive reform of occupational safety law. Drese argues that statutes such as the Home Work Act of 1951 and the Youth Employment Protection Act from the 1970s no longer reflect modern realities. The initiative seeks to cut bureaucracy, consolidate overlapping rules and update obsolete provisions for today's working world.
