(in German)

Small companies investing in new buildings or work equipment often neglect to consider occupational safety and health. Such investments could be an opportunity for crucial solutions, however. At the construction and procurement stages, management consultants who collaborate with the directors of small businesses could play an effective role in the area of prevention.

Ensuring such an early intervention takes place can be challenging, however. It is often the case that consultants are not informed about the prospective investment. Moreover, to support small businesses effectively, in addition to their consulting tasks, they also need to organize the appropriate networking. This applies to the interplay between the different areas, such as the standard requirements, the prediction of noise, the revision of cost estimates and the safety instructions for machinery.

This "BAuA: Guidance" brochure provides examples of the capability of early strategies surrounding occupational safety and health to guide investment measures. This brochure primarily addresses consultants who are qualified in the field of occupational safety and health, such as occupational safety specialists and health consultants. It also reaches out to consultants from various backgrounds, such as technology consultants, investment planning experts and manufacturers.

In terms of the investment measures regarding occupational safety and health, "consulting" is defined as expert advice surrounding process-related support for corporate decision-makers. Its purpose is to ensure workplace conditions that are healthy and safe. Consulting services concerning workplace safety and health as well as on prevention measures should be mutually supportive. They should ultimately constitute a proactive strategy to minimize potential accidents and promote safety and health at the workplace.

This brochure informs consultants working for small companies on the appropriate procedures for their investment plan. It includes examples, such as a tool manufacturer with 20 employees considering an investment in a new testing device as well as a small IT systems business planning a new branch at an industrial park. Accordingly, this kind of consulting is imperative and strongly advised in order to ensure that investments include effective measures for ensuring safety and health at the workplace.

Please download the complete brochure "Occupational health and safety advice for investments" (in German only).