As a certified safety specialist (Sicherheitsfachkraft) under the
SFK-VO and the Austrian Employee Protection Act (ASchG), I am the
dedicated contact person for occupational safety in your business,
not bound by instructions in professional matters, with an inside
view of the authorities from eight years at the Labour Inspectorate
(Arbeitsinspektorat).
What a safety specialist does
Safety specialists advise and support employers, employees,
safety representatives (Sicherheitsvertrauenspersonen, SVP) and
employee representative bodies on all matters of occupational
safety and the humane design of work (§ 76 ASchG).
The obligation to provide support under §§ 73–77 ASchG applies
from the very first employee. The form in which it is
implemented (internal, external, site walk-through model or
prevention time model) depends on the size and type of business.
As an external SFK, I take on this support for your business,
with all the obligations the law provides for. Transparently
documented, pragmatically implemented, without a paperwork marathon.
My tasks for you
What ongoing SFK support actually includes:
Site walk-throughs
Regular walk-throughs of workplaces and construction sites, with a structured report and a traceable list of measures.
Hazard assessment
Systematic identification and assessment of hazards, with the safety and health protection document (SiGe-Dokument) updated whenever there is a significant change.
Advice on procurement
Assessment of new work equipment, machinery, working substances and personal protective equipment (PPE) before purchase, before they become a problem in your business.
Safety briefings & training
Organising, preparing and advising on safety briefings, operating instructions and safety training for your employees.
Documentation & annual report
Complete documentation of prevention time, the legally required annual report to the employer, the safety representatives (SVP) and, on request, the Labour Inspectorate.
Cooperation with specialists
Coordination with occupational medicine, ergonomics, occupational psychology and the safety representatives (SVP) in your business.
Sites in Austria and Germany
With the additional qualification “Austrian safety specialist
in Germany” (Österreichische Sicherheitsfachkraft in
Deutschland), I also support businesses with sites on both
sides of the border. I harmonise documentation and processes,
so that you don’t have to run two parallel SFK systems.
Packages
Three ways to work with me
Depending on your needs: a one-off check for orientation, ongoing
support as your external SFK or selective support for a
specific topic.
One-off
Safety starter package
The compact way in: on-site check, document review and a prioritised action plan. So that you know where you stand and what needs to be done next.
One-off site walk-through of the workplace
Review of the safety-relevant documents (SiGe document, inspection records, official decisions)
Interviews with managers and the SVP
Prioritised list of measures (short, medium and long term)
Ongoing external SFK support under the ASchG, either under the prevention time model (§ 82a ASchG) or the site walk-through model (up to 50 employees).
Regular site walk-throughs at the statutory interval
Continuous updating of the hazard assessment and SiGe document
Support with safety briefings and operating instructions
Documentation of prevention time
Annual report to the employer, the SVP and, on request, the Labour Inspectorate
Contact person between appointments as well, by phone or email
Optional: support during Labour Inspectorate visits
Targeted support for a specific topic, without an ongoing contract. For businesses that already have an internal SFK or need expertise on specific points.
Assessment of working substances for a specific product / process
Setting up checklist and deadline management
Cost-benefit analysis of a safety project
Aligning sites AT ↔ DE (harmonising documentation and processes)
Advice on conversions or new builds from an employee protection perspective
Package prices depend on the size of the business, the type of
activity and the number of sites. I prepare a non-binding quote
after a free first call, usually within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions about the external SFK
What company managers ask me most often in the first call. And my clear answers.
How does the first site walk-through work?
The initial walk-through typically takes half a day to a full day, depending on the size and type of business. I go through the workplaces systematically and talk to managers and, where possible, to employees on site. You then receive a written report with a prioritised list of measures. Before the appointment, I need the safety-relevant documents (SiGe document, inspection records, trade permit decisions) so that I can look at the right things.
Is there a minimum contract term for ongoing support?
I conclude standard support contracts for an indefinite period, with the option to terminate at the end of any quarter. No tie-in contracts, no 36-month minimum. If the collaboration doesn’t work for you, you should be able to leave. At the same time, I give you the planning certainty that I will be there over the coming years, if that is what you want.
Do I need an SFK if I only have a few employees?
Yes. The obligation to provide safety-related support under §§ 73–77 ASchG applies from the very first employee. Up to 50 employees, however, the so-called site walk-through model (Begehungsmodell, § 77a Abs. 2 ASchG) is an option. That means a minimum number of prevention hours per workplace and year, but no permanent quota of specialist time. I am happy to work out for you what makes sense for your size and type of business.
What happens in the event of an occupational accident?
As your external SFK, I am involved immediately: checking the notification to the AUVA (Austrian Workers’ Compensation Board) and the Labour Inspectorate, analysing the causes of the accident, adapting the hazard assessment and proposing specific measures so that the incident does not happen again. The accident report itself remains the employer’s responsibility. But I support the process and make sure that the documentation stands up to scrutiny by the authorities.
What sets you apart from a ‘normal’ prevention service?
Eight years as a labour inspector. That means I know what the law says and what the authority actually looks at in your business. And in what order. As an industrial engineer, I also bring experience from industry, most recently in production management. You don’t get someone who just works through forms, but someone who thinks along technically and proposes measures that also make economic sense for your business.
Do you need an external safety specialist? Or want to find out whether you do?
Call me or book a free 30-minute first call directly. I will tell you honestly what makes sense and what doesn’t, even if that means you don’t need me.