The company doctor
The company doctor: Who needs one and what are their responsibilities?
A company doctor is an important component of occupational health and safety in companies. However, many companies wonder when a company doctor is needed, what tasks they perform and how often they must be present in the company. In this blog article, we explain who is legally obliged to provide a company doctor, what their duties are and how their working hours are calculated based on the WZ-Codes – including a practical example.
Who needs a company doctor?
According to the Occupational Safety Act (ASiG), every employer, regardless of the size of the company, is obliged to take measures to ensure occupational safety. This means that almost every company needs a company doctor if the nature of the business or the number of employees requires it. The company doctor is particularly important in sectors with an increased health risk, such as industry, construction or healthcare.
The obligation to appoint a company doctor usually depends on the hazard class and the number of employees. Companies that are exposed to particular risks – for example, through handling hazardous substances or working in extreme environments – usually have to have a company doctor on site permanently or regularly. However, there is also an obligation to provide occupational health care in office environments and service companies.
Duties of the company doctor
A company doctor performs a wide range of tasks that go far beyond standard health care. The most important duties of a company doctor include:
1. Advising the employer:
The company doctor advises the company on all matters relating to health protection and workplace design. This includes assessing workplaces, ergonomic aspects and hazards.
2. Preventive medical check-ups:
The company doctor carries out regular check-ups on employees. This may include general occupational health check-ups or special examinations for employees who are particularly at risk (e.g. those who handle hazardous substances).
3. Accident prevention:
The company doctor contributes to the prevention of accidents at work and occupational diseases by carrying out risk analyses and continuously improving occupational safety.
4. Vaccinations and protective measures:
In healthcare professions in particular, the company doctor ensures that employees are vaccinated and protected against infection.
5. Rehabilitation and reintegration:
If an employee returns to work after an illness or accident, the company doctor supports this process through individual reintegration.
6. Training and instruction:
The company doctor can also play an important role in training employees in health and safety issues and in providing special instruction.
Working hours of company doctors based on the WZ code
The working hours of a company doctor are calculated based on the economic sector code (WZ code). The WZ code indicates the industry in which a company operates and is used by the Federal Statistical Office to classify different areas of activity.
The WZ code is used to determine the level of support required for the company doctor and occupational safety specialist. This level of support varies depending on the industry and includes basic support and event-related support.
Basic support consists of three levels:
1. Company doctor and occupational safety specialist
must provide a fixed amount of support (in hours per year and employee), which is determined on the basis of the WZ code.
2. Company size:
Smaller companies have lower requirements, while larger companies require more support time.
3. Industry risk:
Industries with a higher risk potential (e.g. construction) usually have a higher need for care than, for example, service sectors.
Example calculation:
- WZ code: Production operation (e.g. mechanical engineering)
- Deployment time: 2 hours per employee per year
If a production plant employs 50 people, this results in an annual operating time of:
50 employees × 2 hours = 100 hours per year
Division of responsibilities between occupational safety specialist and company doctor
The specified working time is divided between the occupational safety specialist and the company doctor. This division is made according to operational requirements and specific risks identified in the risk assessment.
As a rule, the operating time is divided as follows:
- Company doctor: 30-40% of working hours
- Occupational safety specialist: 60-70% of working hours
Example of distribution:
With a total working time of 100 hours per year (as in the example above):
- Company doctor: 30-40 hours per year
- Occupational safety specialist: 60-70 hours per year
A company doctor is required by law for many companies and plays a crucial role in occupational safety and health care. The working hours of the company doctor depend on the size of the company, the industry risk and the WZ code. A well-founded care model ensures that all employees receive regular care and that occupational safety and health protection in the company remain at a high level.
HSE-Ingenieure GmbH works with a large number of occupational physicians throughout Germany. If you require further information on this topic, please feel free to contact us at any time.