Germany
inspection campaign
Cooperation for Implementing Work Safety in Care Business (KoBrA)
- Duration: 2 years
- Sector: care sector – residential care activities for the elderly and disabled (NACE code 87.30) and social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled (NACE code 88.10)
- Number of inspected entities: 388
- Number of labour inspectors engaged in the campaign activities: not specified
The KoBrA campaign aimed to check and promote work safety and risk assessment in the care sector, focusing on inspecting care enterprises delivering services to elderly and disabled at home and in resident care centres. The initiative addressed poor work conditions and lack of competent staff in the sector.
The priority area was selected based on proposals from partner institutions, including ministries, statutory accident insurances, employers' organizations, trade union, and other relevant bodies. The campaign targeted the care sector and focused on specific hazards and legal compliance issues. Inspections were planned to cover 10-20% of registered entities where problems were expected. Selection was based on workplace location and sectoral criteria, using a list from the legal register.
Inspections were carried out evenly throughout the planned period, lasting 2-8 hours on-site and 4-8 hours for office activities per day. An inspection letter was sent to these enterprises which have to perform measures. A select team of experienced inspectors (up to 10% of staff) was involved, with additional training provided. Inspectors used checklists and specialist materials during activities. The campaign involved cooperation with statutory accident insurances for public and private sector enterprises in the care sector. Cooperation involved planning, communication, implementation, and result dissemination stages, including media reports and employer magazine communications. An expert from a research institution monitored and coordinated the inspection activity, focusing on the quantitative plan implementation. A research institute provided an IT tool to register inspection outcomes and imposed measures.
The evaluation was performed by a group including representatives from ministries, statutory accident insurances, a work environment science professor, and a statistics expert. Assessment included statistical analysis of data from the IT tool.
Key findings:
- 93% of inpatient facilities had risk assessment, 66% rated appropriate;
- 73% of outpatient care services had risk assessment, 42% rated appropriate;
- Outpatient facilities showed greater need for action in occupational health and safety organization.
A report with statistical data was published to aid decision-making and work environment improvement in care enterprises. It detailed findings, importance of trained safety staff accessibility, and employee involvement. Results were compared with the SLIC inspection campaign on musculoskeletal diseases.
Campaign results were disseminated through website publication and presentation at the yearly venue for care enterprises, aiming to improve work safety and risk assessment practices in the sector.