RP Darmstadt oversees 175,000 businesses with approximately 1.8 million employees in southern Hesse
Hesse's Minister of Labor, Heike Hofmann, visited the occupational safety department of the Darmstadt Regional Council. Together with Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt, Vice President Dr. Stefan Fuhrmann, and department head Jutta Flocke, she discussed current tasks and challenges in protecting employees.
The eight occupational safety departments of the regional council deal with a broad range of tasks. These include the monitoring of workplaces and construction sites, operational safety issues, and market surveillance of products and medical devices. Protection against hazards from explosive substances also falls within their remit.
Overall, the occupational safety department in southern Hesse is responsible for supervision, inspections, advice, approvals and the processing of inquiries and complaints in approximately 175,000 companies with 1.8 million employees.
Construction site safety as a focus
A key focus of the visit was safety on construction sites. The occupational safety and health inspectorate monitors both smaller construction projects, such as single-family and two-family homes, and large, technically complex projects. These include major construction sites in Frankfurt as well as the decommissioning of the former Biblis nuclear power plant.
“Effective occupational safety requires clear rules, sound knowledge, and consistent implementation,” explained Hofmann. Especially on construction sites, even minor oversights can have serious consequences. Therefore, concrete support for companies is just as necessary as targeted inspections.
Regional President Hilligardt described occupational safety as a core responsibility of the Regional Council. He stated that the experts are closely connected to businesses and familiar with the challenges on the ground. "We focus on both consultation and support as well as consistent inspections."
The world of work presents new challenges for occupational safety
During her visit, Hofmann also spoke directly with employees of the various occupational safety departments. The discussions focused on changes resulting from the transformation of the working world.
Digitalization, new forms of work, and increasingly complex technological developments are also changing the requirements for safety and health in the workplace. Added to this is the need to address the psychological stress experienced by employees.
Hofmann thanked the staff of the Regional Council for their work and emphasized the cooperation between the Ministry and the Regional Council. He stated that this cooperation is "always highly professional and constructive – even when clarification is needed at short notice.".
(DARMSTADT – RED/RPDA)
