Starting point
Multiple companies, changing teams and parallel activities create hazards that no single contractor can control alone. Information is particularly vulnerable at handovers, during changes and between shifts.
Cooperation basis
Section 8 of the German Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers sharing a workplace to cooperate, exchange hazard information and coordinate measures. Project rules can specify the process but do not replace each employer's responsibility.
Core elements
Begin before mobilisation with minimum requirements, qualification checks, interface planning, site-specific induction, contacts, authority, escalation, common inspections and one action-tracking process.
Common mistakes
A signature under site rules does not prove effective coordination. Unclear ownership, multiple trackers, late information and document-focused processes are recurring problems.
Practical example
For parallel contractors, a daily interface meeting, common escalation levels and one action tracker are introduced. Recurring deviations are analysed by cause and trade rather than closed individually only.
Frequently asked questions
Who remains responsible for a contractor's employees?
Their employer remains responsible. Client and coordination duties may be added depending on the situation but do not replace that responsibility.
Is general induction enough?
No. Specific hazards, activities, interfaces and changes must also be communicated and controlled.
Technical foundations
The specific operational and project situation must always be assessed.