Guide

What is the safety specialist's responsibility in an accident?

The specialist's responsibility is measured by the findings and advice they gave in writing; the decision itself is the employer's.

Separating duty and decision

The specialist observes, assesses and advises; the employer takes the business decision. That separation also separates responsibility — but only where the advice is written and recorded.

Why written notice decides it

A verbal warning cannot be evidenced after the event. Giving findings and advice in writing both speeds up removal of the hazard and records who reported what, and when.

Suspension of the certificate

Article 34(2) of the Occupational Safety Specialists Regulation provides that where negligence is established by a court decision in an accident or occupational disease resulting in death or in bodily harm amounting to disability, the specialist's certificate is suspended for six months.

What the record protects

The specialist's record protects not only them but the workplace: which hazard was reported when, and what was done, becomes visible. Without records, even work done well cannot be shown.

In Optifora

Findings, advice and their fulfilment are kept in one record; written notice stands with its date, and advice left unfulfilled stays in the list.

  1. Write the findingRecord the hazard you saw, with its date and location, in writing.
  2. Give the adviceGive the advice to the employer in writing and record that you did.
  3. Follow upTrack fulfilment and record what remains open.
  4. Separate urgencyWhere there is danger to life, use a separate and prioritised route.
  5. Keep the recordKeep findings, advice and responses with their versions.
  6. Assemble after an eventWhen an accident occurs, attach the related findings and advice to the file.

Manage this in Optifora

Optifora is not a single program but a compliance platform assembled from modules. The catalogue states which module is ready today and which is on the roadmap.

See what Optifora is