In principle, employers are responsible for compliance with the provisions of the Labour Protection Act (ArbeitnehmerInnen-schutzgesetz, ASchG). Pursuant to the Administrative Penal Act (Verwaltungsstrafgesetz, VStG) and the Labour Inspection Act (Arbeitsinspektionsgesetz, ArbIG), employers may also appoint one or several staff members as safety experts who are responsible for compliance with all administrative provisions either for the entire company or for certain local or technical divisions. A distinction has to be made between safety experts within the meaning of this paragraph and other “authorized staff” such as prevention service personnel, safety representatives or fire prevention officers.
