When are health checks for wet work mandatory in Germany?

For wet work of regularly four hours or more per day, the employer must arrange mandatory checks; for regularly more than two hours per day, checks must be offered (ArbMedVV Annex Part 1(1) no. 2(a) and (2) no. 2(e)).

How often must the check be repeated?

At regular intervals (Section 4(1), Section 5(1) ArbMedVV). The ordinance sets no fixed interval; the certificate states when a further check is advisable (Section 6(3) no. 3).

Does the employer see the medical findings?

No. The employer and the employee receive a certificate stating the date, reason and next check; the doctor is bound by medical confidentiality (Section 6(1) and (3)).

DE · Expiry & renewal tracking

Health checks for wet work in Germany: book them on time

For wet work of four hours or more a day, German employers must arrange mandatory health checks, and for more than two hours offer optional ones, before the work starts and at regular intervals thereafter (ArbMedVV Annex Part 1, Sections 4, 5). The next date is on the doctor's certificate (Section 6(3) no. 3).

Under the annex to the German Ordinance on Occupational Health Care (ArbMedVV), the employer must arrange mandatory health checks for wet work of regularly four hours or more per day (Annex Part 1(1) no. 2(a)). For wet work of regularly more than two hours per day, health checks must be offered (Annex Part 1(2) no. 2(e)).

Mandatory checks must be arranged before the activity starts and then at regular intervals; the employer may only let the person do the work if they have attended (Section 4(1) and (2) ArbMedVV). Offered checks must also be offered before the activity starts and regularly afterwards, even if an offer was declined (Section 5(1)). The ordinance sets no fixed interval in months.

After each appointment, the employee and the employer receive a certificate that also states when a further check is advisable from a medical point of view (Section 6(3) no. 3). That is the date to track.

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At a glance

Mandatory checks	Wet work of regularly four hours or more per day (Annex Part 1(1) no. 2(a))
Offered checks	Wet work of regularly more than two hours per day (Annex Part 1(2) no. 2(e))
When	Before the activity starts and then at regular intervals (Section 4(1), Section 5(1))
Next check	Stated on the health check certificate (Section 6(3) no. 3)
Attendance	Without attending a mandatory check, the person may not do the work (Section 4(2))
Health check register	That, when and why checks took place; kept until employment ends (Section 3(4))

Checks need not be arranged or offered where the rules published under Section 9(4) ArbMedVV provide otherwise (Annex Part 1(4)). For general information, see the guide to occupational health checks (ArbMedVV).

Who is responsible?

The employer ensures appropriate health checks based on the risk assessment and appoints a doctor under Section 7, preferably the company doctor (Section 3(1) and (2) ArbMedVV). If the risk assessment shows several reasons for checks, they should be combined in one appointment (Section 3(3)).

If the deadline passes

It is an administrative offence to fail, intentionally or negligently, to arrange a mandatory check or to arrange it on time, to let someone work without attending it, or to fail to offer a check on time (Section 10(1) ArbMedVV). Anyone who thereby intentionally endangers an employee's life or health commits a criminal offence under Section 26 no. 2 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Section 10(2)).

Health checks are not fitness tests

Occupational health checks do not include proving fitness for job requirements (Section 2(1) no. 5 ArbMedVV). Physical or clinical examinations may not be carried out against the employee's will (Section 6(1)).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each employee who does wet work and enter the date from their certificate when the next check is advisable.
Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the day itself.
Assign a responsible person, such as HR 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

When are health checks for wet work mandatory in Germany?: For wet work of regularly four hours or more per day, the employer must arrange mandatory checks; for regularly more than two hours per day, checks must be offered (ArbMedVV Annex Part 1(1) no. 2(a) and (2) no. 2(e)).
How often must the check be repeated?: At regular intervals (Section 4(1), Section 5(1) ArbMedVV). The ordinance sets no fixed interval; the certificate states when a further check is advisable (Section 6(3) no. 3).
Does the employer see the medical findings?: No. The employer and the employee receive a certificate stating the date, reason and next check; the doctor is bound by medical confidentiality (Section 6(1) and (3)).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 1, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

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Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each occupational health check for wet work (ArbMedVV) (Germany) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

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