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⛑️ Occupational safety, BG BAU and building site law

Duties for safety on the building site: employers' liability insurance association, advance notice for large sites and accident reporting.

occupational safety BG BAU Baustellenverordnung advance notice (Vorankündigung) accident insurance building site risk assessment

In brief

As a business owner you are responsible for the safety of your employees. The employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft; in construction usually BG BAU) advises on this and supervises.

  • Register your business with the accident insurance provider.
  • For large building sites the Baustellenverordnung also applies: advance notice to the responsible authority.
  • Document hazards and safety instructions.

For questions about safety on the building site: ask the accident insurance provider. Advice is part of its tasks.

Step by step

  1. Register the businessNotify the accident insurance provider of the start (one week).
  2. Record hazardsDocument the risks for each activity and set protective measures.
  3. Instruct employeesRecord safety instructions in writing.
  4. Check large building sitesAdvance notice under the Baustellenverordnung if the thresholds are reached.

Deadlines

> 30 working days and > 20 employees
Advance notice is required if the work is expected to last more than 30 working days and more than 20 employees are working at the same time, or if the volume is expected to exceed 500 person-days.§ 2 Abs. 2 BaustellV
2 weeks
Advance notice at the latest two weeks before the building site is set up.§ 2 Abs. 2 BaustellV
1 week
Notification of the start of the business to the accident insurance provider.§ 192 Abs. 1 SGB VII
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The advance notice must be posted visibly on the building site and updated in case of significant changes.
  • The duties under the Arbeitsschutzgesetz (risk assessment, safety instruction) and the duty to report occupational accidents were not checked here against the primary source.
  • For clients, the person responsible for the advance notice is the person who sets up the building site or third parties commissioned to do so. Clarify responsibilities by contract.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Baustellenverordnung

§ 2 Abs. 2 BaustellV requires advance notice for building sites where the work is expected to last more than 30 working days and more than 20 employees are working at the same time, or where the volume of work is expected to exceed 500 person-days. It must be submitted to the responsible authority at the latest two weeks before the building site is set up, posted visibly and updated in case of significant changes. Further duties under the ordinance (coordinator, safety and health protection plan) were not evaluated here.

Statutory accident insurance

Business owners must notify the responsible accident insurance provider of the start (§ 192 SGB VII). It advises on and supervises accident prevention; the content and rules of the BG BAU were not evaluated in detail here.

Arbeitsschutzgesetz

The employer's basic duties arise from the Arbeitsschutzgesetz (Occupational Safety and Health Act). This page gives no details on it. Ask the statutory accident insurance provider.

Who is responsible
  • BG BAU or the accident insurance provider responsible for your trade
  • Responsible state occupational safety authority (advance notice)
  • Chamber of crafts
Further reading
Business liability insurance and other insuranceUndeclared work, false self-employment and immediate notification

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Occupational safety, BG BAU and building site law“?
Duties for safety on the building site: employers' liability insurance association, advance notice for large sites and accident reporting.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • > 30 working days and > 20 employees: Advance notice is required if the work is expected to last more than 30 working days and more than 20 employees are working at the same time, or if the volume is expected to exceed 500 person-days. (§ 2 Abs. 2 BaustellV)
  • 2 weeks: Advance notice at the latest two weeks before the building site is set up. (§ 2 Abs. 2 BaustellV)
  • 1 week: Notification of the start of the business to the accident insurance provider. (§ 192 Abs. 1 SGB VII)
What should I do first?
  • Register the business: Notify the accident insurance provider of the start (one week).
  • Record hazards: Document the risks for each activity and set protective measures.
  • Instruct employees: Record safety instructions in writing.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The advance notice must be posted visibly on the building site and updated in case of significant changes.
  • The duties under the Arbeitsschutzgesetz (risk assessment, safety instruction) and the duty to report occupational accidents were not checked here against the primary source.
  • For clients, the person responsible for the advance notice is the person who sets up the building site or third parties commissioned to do so. Clarify responsibilities by contract.
Evidence
  • § 2 BaustellV, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • § 192 SGB VII, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

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