Identify risks, take responsibility

Companies in Germany are responsible for the protection of their employees. Learn here what legal requirements and regulations may apply to your company and what specific obligations you must fulfill – especially regarding lone work.

Last updated on 09/03/2026. Professionally reviewed by rising systems AG

CONTENT

§ 5 Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG)

(1) The employer is obliged to assess the hazards associated with the work for the employees in order to determine the necessary measures for occupational safety. (2) The assessment must be carried out depending on the nature of the activities. For similar working conditions, the assessment of one workplace or activity is sufficient.

§ 5 ArbSchG

DGUV Regulation 112-139

According to § 25 of the accident prevention regulation "Principles of Prevention" (BGV/GUV-V A1), the employer must ensure that help can be organized immediately in emergencies. For individual workplaces, this means that appropriate organizational and technical monitoring measures must be implemented – for example, through personal emergency signal systems (PNA). This also fulfills central requirements of the DGUV Regulation 112-139.

Definitions

Lone Work (also: Individual Workplaces, EAP)

Activity of a person outside the sight or hearing range of others, regardless of duration.

Hazardous Work

Activity with increased or critical risk due to work processes, tasks, materials used, or work environment; requires prior risk assessment.

DIN VDE V 0825-1

Pre-standard for wireless personal emergency signal systems for hazardous solo work; Part 1 regulates device and testing requirements.

Personal emergency signal system (PNA)

System for triggering and transmitting manual and automatic emergency signals; consists of one or more personal emergency signal devices (PNG) and a receiving unit (PNEZ). With voice connection: PNA-S.

Personal emergency signal device (PNG)

Wireless signal transmitter carried by the endangered person, which can trigger an alarm voluntarily or involuntarily. With voice connection: PNG-S.

Voluntary personal alarm

Conscious, intentional manual triggering of an optical and acoustic signal in the receiving center.

Involuntary personal alarm

Optical and acoustic signal automatically triggered by the device in the receiving center.

Emergency

Occurrence of a condition that requires assistance measures, e.g., accident, acute illness, contact with hazardous substances, or physical assault.

Emergency signal

Signal that triggers a personal alarm in the receiving center.