Does the German Occupational Safety and Health Act require a yearly briefing?

No. Section 12 ArbSchG sets no fixed interval: the briefing must be adapted to how risks develop and repeated regularly where necessary. The minimum of once a year comes from Section 12(1) BetrSichV, Section 14(2) GefStoffV and Section 14(3) BioStoffV.

How often must young workers be briefed?

At appropriate intervals, but at least every six months (Section 29(2) JArbSchG).

What applies to noise and vibration?

If the lower exposure action values for noise or the action values for vibration can be reached or exceeded, employees must be briefed before employment starts and then at regular intervals, and always when the exposed work changes significantly (Section 11(1) of the Noise and Vibration Occupational Safety Regulation).

Who briefs agency workers?

The user company (Section 12(2) ArbSchG).

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Repeat safety briefings on time

German employers must brief employees on safety at hiring and before any change of task; Section 12 ArbSchG sets no fixed interval, but the BetrSichV, GefStoffV and BioStoffV require a repeat at least yearly, and the JArbSchG every six months for young workers. Date and participants must be recorded in writing.

Under Section 12(1) of the German Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG), the employer must give employees sufficient and appropriate instruction (Unterweisung) on safety and health at work during working hours, with instructions and explanations tailored to their workplace or tasks. The briefing must take place before work starts when someone is hired, when their tasks change and when new work equipment or technology is introduced; it must be adapted to how risks develop and be repeated regularly where necessary.

Section 12 ArbSchG sets no fixed interval. Several regulations, however, require the briefing at least once a year: the Industrial Safety Regulation for employees who use work equipment (Section 12(1) BetrSichV), the Hazardous Substances Regulation (Section 14(2) GefStoffV) and the Biological Agents Regulation (Section 14(3) BioStoffV). Young workers must be briefed again at least every six months (Section 29(2) of the Young Persons Protection of Employment Act, JArbSchG).

Records are regulated too: under BetrSichV, the date of each briefing and the names of those briefed are recorded in writing. Under GefStoffV and BioStoffV, the content and date are recorded in writing and confirmed by the employees' signatures.

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At a glance

Rule	When	Record
Section 12 ArbSchG (all employees)	On hiring and on changes, before work starts; repeated regularly where necessary	Not specified in Section 12
Section 12(1) BetrSichV (work equipment)	Before first use, then at least once a year	Date and names of those briefed, in writing
Section 14(2) GefStoffV (hazardous substances)	Before employment starts, then at least yearly, orally and specific to the workplace	Content and date in writing, confirmed by signature
Section 14(3) BioStoffV (biological agents)	Before employment starts, then at least yearly, specific to the workplace	Content and date in writing, confirmed by signature
Section 29 JArbSchG (young workers)	Before employment starts, then at least every six months	Not specified in Section 29

Who is responsible?

The employer (Section 12(1) ArbSchG). For agency workers, the duty lies with the user company, which takes into account the qualifications and experience of the workers assigned to it. The agency's other occupational safety duties remain unaffected (Section 12(2) ArbSchG).

If the deadline passes

Administrative offences include failing to brief employees, or failing to brief them in time, before they use work equipment, contrary to Section 12(1) sentence 2 BetrSichV (Section 22(1) no. 26 BetrSichV); failing to ensure that employees are briefed orally under Section 14(2) sentence 1 GefStoffV (Section 22(1) no. 25 GefStoffV); and failing to ensure that an employee is briefed under Section 14(2) sentence 1 BioStoffV (Section 20(1) no. 23 BioStoffV).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each employee and enter the briefing with the date by which it must be repeated; for young workers, no later than six months after the last one.
Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the day itself.
Assign a responsible person, such as the line manager or the occupational safety specialist; emails arrive in each recipient's language.
If a date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

Does the German Occupational Safety and Health Act require a yearly briefing?: No. Section 12 ArbSchG sets no fixed interval: the briefing must be adapted to how risks develop and repeated regularly where necessary. The minimum of once a year comes from Section 12(1) BetrSichV, Section 14(2) GefStoffV and Section 14(3) BioStoffV.
How often must young workers be briefed?: At appropriate intervals, but at least every six months (Section 29(2) JArbSchG).
What applies to noise and vibration?: If the lower exposure action values for noise or the action values for vibration can be reached or exceeded, employees must be briefed before employment starts and then at regular intervals, and always when the exposed work changes significantly (Section 11(1) of the Noise and Vibration Occupational Safety Regulation).
Who briefs agency workers?: The user company (Section 12(2) ArbSchG).

Sources

Last checked: Sep 30, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for annual safety briefing (DGUV V1) (Germany)

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Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each annual safety briefing (DGUV V1) (Germany) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each annual safety briefing (DGUV V1) (Germany) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.