What the labour inspectorate looks for since 2026

Since 2026, § 21 (1a) of the German Occupational Safety Act sets a minimum quota for the federal states: five percent of companies get inspected every year. For a company with 200 employees that means the visit is not a question of if, but of when.

What ends up on the table

• The risk assessment, including psychological strain (§ 5 ArbSchG), with measures and a check of their effect
• Safety training: who, when, on what, with evidence (§ 12 ArbSchG, DGUV rule 1)
• The health check register: which check took place when (§ 3 (4) ArbMedVV)
• Enough first aiders and fire wardens, with valid training
• The safety committee from 20 employees, quarterly, with minutes

The most common finding

Not that something is missing, but that nobody knows whether it is. The training happened, but the list sits with a former colleague. The health check was done, but the certificate is in a mailbox. Inspectors judge what can be shown.

Seeing the gaps beforehand

INFIVE keeps the state of every obligation: evidence present, with date and source, or open. The inspection export sums it up with one button, gaps included. Whatever INFIVE does not know is listed as open. That is not a guarantee for the visit, but an honest basis for it.

Note: this post is a draft and not legal or tax advice.