Left: Hamburg insufficiently equipped for occupational safety - Hamburg's workplace safety inspections fall dangerously short of legal targets
Hamburg is facing challenges in meeting new occupational safety inspection targets for its businesses. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Act, the city must inspect at least five percent of its businesses. However, in 2023, only 2.38 percent were checked—less than half the required number.
The city currently has just one inspector for every 878 businesses. To reach the five percent goal, over 2,700 inspections would need to be completed. This shortfall has drawn criticism from political groups.
The Left Party in Hamburg is pushing for more staff in the occupational safety authority. Kay Jäger, the party's labour union policy spokesperson, argued that the current system fails to deter irresponsible employers. He warned that the low inspection rate sends the wrong signal to businesses ignoring safety rules.
Meanwhile, the number of safety violations found in Hamburg's workplaces has risen sharply. Between 2020 and 2023, recorded breaches doubled. Despite this, the average fine for violations in 2023 remained low, at around €200.
Hamburg's current inspection rate falls well below the national standard. Without additional staff, the city will struggle to meet its legal obligations. The Left Party insists that stronger enforcement is needed to improve workplace safety.
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