Germany’s approach to OSH compliance: the role of labour inspectorate and prevention services

Abstract

Germany’s OSH system combines regulatory enforcement with prevention-oriented services delivered by labour inspectorates and social accident insurance institutions. The study forms part of a comparative report that also examined Ireland, Norway, Poland and Portugal. The study aimed to analyse Germany’s approach to supporting OSH compliance, focusing on the roles of labour inspectorates, social accident insurance institutions and workplace-level actors. It sought to identify how enforcement, advisory support and institutional cooperation contribute to effective prevention, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The analysis drew on a literature review of legal and institutional frameworks, expert interviews with inspectors, insurance representatives and social partners, and selected case studies of sectoral or regional initiatives. Data were synthesised to characterise governance arrangements, the tools used to support compliance, and the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the system. Findings indicate that compliance is not driven solely by inspections and sanctions, but also by advisory services, targeted outreach and tailored interventions for SMEs. Cooperation between labour inspectorates and accident insurance institutions enables coordinated campaigns and sector-specific prevention programmes. The comparative report was explicitly designed as a mutual learning exercise. It identifies common challenges, such as fragmented responsibilities, resource constraints and data gaps, as well as transferable practices that can be adapted incrementally to fit different institutional, regulatory and cultural contexts. Germany’s experience shows that combining enforcement, prevention services and institutional cooperation can strengthen OSH governance and reduce work-related risks and diseases, while offering practical insights for other EU Member States seeking to modernise their labour inspection systems.