At the end of April there was a security day in Salzburg for the first time, organized by the statutory accident insurance AUVA, the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (WKS) and the Association of Austrian Security Expert (Vösi). Over 100 participants from various industries took part in the top -class event, which is considered important further training in the field of occupational safety and health protection.
Preventive services and the role of security specialists
The event was devoted to security and health protection responsibility in companies and presented a valuable opportunity for professional development. According to the employee: Interior protection law (AschG), employers are obliged to appoint security specialists- be it through company-internal or external safety specialists or through safety centers. Security specialists have a position -free position and make a decisive contribution to minimizing risks and protecting the health of the employees.
“The companies take protection at work very seriously because healthy, satisfied and efficient employees are important to them. However, this is also an area that creates a lot of bureaucracy that should be searched through without having to cut back on safety,” said WKS director Deputy. Gerd Raspotnig clear. He is also the new chairman of the Auva State Center Committee.
Safety standards and active introduction in prevention
Auva state director director Herbert Koutny underlined the importance of exchange among experts in order to simplify dealing with norms in occupational safety. It is crucial that standards are not only on paper, but also in the heads and actions of the employees: are anchored inside. “It is about making norms understandable in the common discussion that they are actually implemented in practice and contribute to improving security in the companies,” continues Koutny.
Andreas SpechtenhauserPresident of the Vösi, invited the participants in his speech to actively contribute to security -related topics: “They are the experts in their area and their experiences are irreplaceable,” he said. “We use our great potential and we share the existing knowledge to achieve even more for the security of our employees: to achieve the inside of the workplace.”
High security standards in jobs offer long -term competitive advantages and help to reduce the consequences of work accidents and working -related diseases. In this way, tax costs can also be reduced. Every euro invested in operational prevention usually comes back more than double. According to an extensive study (DGUV 2013), the Return on Prevention (ROP) is EUR 2.2 when investing in occupational care and health. The reason for this is, for example, increased motivation or satisfaction of the employees.
The main topics of the security specialist tag
The event focused on practical lectures on current challenges and legal innovations. Among other things, topics such as accident analysis, digitization in the world of work, maternity leave, violence at work and new applications such as the QM app to manage industrial hygiene and operating protocols were treated intensively.
Also the labor inspectorate, represented by Franz Stefl and Stefan Vötterinformed about his consulting offensive. In the current focus, there are hazards by dealing with dangerous work substances in workplaces and on construction sites as well as increased controls of machines, such as table saw saws, which always lead to serious accidents at work. Vötter motivated to take preventive action: “Use our consulting performance in advance. Solutions can be found anywhere, if you want it together.”
Accident analysis and digitization in the world of work
The goal “Vision Zero” – a world of work without accidents – requires a holistic view. Accidents arise not only from human false acts, but by meeting gaps at different levels such as organization, communication or technology. In order to avoid accidents, companies have to establish an error culture and develop clear responsibilities and suitable analysis methods.
On the subject of digitization in the world of work, the prevention campaign “Safe Digital” of the AUVA was presented. The focus is on mobile and hybrid work, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence as well as digital systems that support employees: internal protection. A major challenge is to keep control of the work process in humans. The effects of “deskilling” – the loss of work -necessary skills due to digital change – are to be kept in mind.
Conclusion and outlook
A consistently positive feedback on the event shows that the exchange between the security specialists and occupational safety is not only necessary, but also future -oriented. One participant stated: “There are still many areas in which we can improve. Even if not all topics of today are relevant for my company, it is my job to remain open to security -relevant questions.”
Gerd Raspotnig summed up: “It is our goal to establish the security specialist day as a permanent institution that should serve as a platform for exchange and further training in the field of occupational safety and health protection.”
Some topics have already been received for the proposed sequel in 2026.