Project Consulting for Occupational Safety and Health
Die Drehscheibe für konkrete Aufgaben, Fachgutachten und Praxisprojekte
Occupational safety issues often arise outside the scope of routine safety supervision. Specific technical assessments are required for construction projects, workplace redesigns, the purchase or modification of machinery, and in cases of specific workplace hazards.
Hillebrand Occupational Safety supports companies, planners, and operators in these tasks by providing project-specific consulting, risk assessments, and expert opinions.
The focus is on one clear question: What hazards exist—and what measures are necessary to ensure that the planned or existing use can be carried out safely?
01 | When is project-specific occupational safety consulting advisable?
Not every occupational safety task can be fully addressed through a general risk assessment or as part of routine supervision.
Independent project consulting is particularly useful when:
workplaces are redesigned, expanded, or repurposed,
to assess escape routes, emergency exits, or evacuation procedures,
Machinery and technical equipment are modified or used under special conditions,
new work procedures or unusual hazardous situations arise,
Installation work must be prepared for at various construction sites,
various technical, structural, and organizational requirements interact.
Often, a technical decision must be made as early as the planning phase. In other cases, identified safety deficiencies or unclear operating conditions prompt an investigation.
02 | What services are included in project consulting?
Risk Assessments
Systematic identification and assessment of hazards associated with specific activities, work equipment, facilities, or structural modifications. This includes developing appropriate protective measures and determining the necessary next steps.
Occupational Safety and Health Opinions
Written assessment of specific issues, such as the use of workspaces, the design of escape routes, or the safety suitability of planned work procedures.
Review of Planning and Operational Documents
Occupational safety assessment of construction plans, usage concepts, operational descriptions, and technical documentation. The goal is to identify safety-related requirements at an early stage and incorporate them into further planning.
Development of Workplace Safety Measures
Development of practical technical and organizational solutions, including responsibilities, training, operating procedures, and effectiveness checks.
Supporting Implementation
Technical support in coordinating with planners, operational managers, and other stakeholders, as well as in reviewing the proposed measures.
03 | Practical Projects: Occupational Safety Put into Practice
The following project reports highlight selected case studies from Arbeitssicherheit Hillebrand’s consulting practice.
They describe the specific initial situation, the technical investigation, and the decisions and protective measures developed as a result.
Arbeitsstätten und Bauplanung
Escape Routes in Sports Facilities—Why the Direction in Which Doors Open Is Crucial Even During the Planning Phase
Bei der Planung zweier Freisportanlagen waren Notausgangstüren mit einer Öffnungsrichtung nach innen vorgesehen. Die arbeitsschutzfachliche Prüfung ergab, dass diese Türen nach außen öffnen müssen und die angrenzenden Verkehrsflächen entsprechend sicher zu gestalten sind.
Key Areas: Workplace Safety Laws · Emergency Exits · Construction Planning
Work Spaces in the Basement—How Usage, Duration of Stay, and Natural Light Are Professionally Assessed
Two projects in social service facilities involved the use of spaces in the basement. The study examined the actual activities carried out there, the patterns of use over time, and the requirements for natural light, artificial lighting, and visual connections.
Key Areas: Workplace Planning · Daylight · Space Utilization
Fluchtwege und Evakuierung
Evacuation in an Indoor Climbing Gym – Safety for People with Different Levels of Mobility
When planning an inclusive climbing gym, the stairwell and evacuation conditions had to be assessed. The study showed that structural escape routes, capacity limits, and the facility’s evacuation procedures must be considered together.
Key Areas: Evacuation · Accessibility · Escape Route Planning
Maschinen und technische Anlagen
Machine Safety in a Subway Tunnel – Risk Assessment of a Mobile Work Platform
During an inspection of subway infrastructure, significant safety deficiencies were identified in the interaction between the work platform, the undercarriage, and the battery-powered locomotive. An initial safety assessment was followed by an in-depth risk assessment that included specific protective measures.
Key Areas: Machine Safety · Industrial Safety Regulations · Risk Assessment
Occupational Safety During the Modernization of a Technical Workshop
A workshop renovation required a comprehensive assessment of fire safety, traffic routes, and mechanical hazards. The risk assessment provided specific recommendations for further planning.
Key Areas: Workshop Planning · Machine Safety · Fire Safety
Montagearbeiten und besondere Gefährdungen
Installing Photovoltaic Systems Safely – Site-Specific Risk Assessments for Roof and Electrical Work
Supplementary risk assessments have been developed for installation companies that can be used before each job. They help identify local hazards, determine protective measures, and provide training to employees.
Key Areas: Fall Protection · Electrical Safety · Construction Site Organization
04 | How does a consulting project work?
The approach depends on the specific task at hand. A structured sequence has proven effective:
1. Clarify the task
What decision is needed? What use, activity, or technical change should be examined?
2. Identify Information and Hazards
Review of existing documentation, interviews with responsible personnel, and, if necessary, an on-site inspection of the workplace or facility.
3. Review Requirements and Assess Hazards
Comparison of actual or planned conditions with the relevant occupational safety and health requirements and recognized engineering practices.
4. Develop protective measures
Development of appropriate technical, organizational, and personnel-related measures, taking into account their legal hierarchy.
5. Document the results
Summary of the findings and recommendations in a risk assessment, technical opinion, or project-specific action plan.
6. Monitor Implementation and Effectiveness
If necessary, provide support with implementation and verify whether the specified measures achieve the intended protective effect.
The result is not merely a collection of rules, but a clear framework for making specific operational decisions.
05 | How is project consulting related to other occupational safety and health topics?
Project-related tasks often draw on several areas of expertise.
For more information, please see our topic hubs:
Risk Assessment in Occupational Safety —Systematically Identifying and Evaluating Hazards and Deriving Countermeasures.
Organization of Occupational Safety and Health —Responsibilities, Operational Procedures, and Implementation of Safety Measures.
Occupational Safety and Health Training —Preparing Employees for Specific Tasks and Hazards.
Occupational Safety Documentation – Record results, responsibilities, and effectiveness checks in a traceable manner.
Fire Safety in the Workplace – Escape Routes, Evacuation, and Organizational Fire Safety.
Project consulting can be provided as a standalone service. It does not require an existing, ongoing occupational safety consulting arrangement with Arbeitssicherheit Hillebrand.
Projektberatung oder regelmäßige Betreuung?
Eine Projektberatung löst konkrete, zeitlich oder fachlich abgegrenzte Aufgaben. Benötigt ein Unternehmen dagegen eine dauerhafte sicherheitstechnische und betriebsärztliche Betreuung nach DGUV Vorschrift 2, kommt die Regelbetreuung infrage. Arbeitssicherheit Hillebrand erläutert die Leistungen und Betreuungsmodelle für kleine und größere Unternehmen.
06 | Your Project – Our Occupational Safety and Health Support
Are you planning a renovation, would you like to have a specific work procedure evaluated, or do you need an independent occupational safety assessment?
Auch bei konkreten Problemen im laufenden Betrieb – etwa zu Fluchtwegen, Absturzgefährdungen, Maschinen oder Arbeitsstätten – unterstützt Arbeitssicherheit Hillebrand mit einer fachlichen Bewertung und praktikablen Schutzmaßnahmen.
Schildern Sie mir Ihre Aufgabenstellung. Im ersten Gespräch klären wir gemeinsam, welche fachliche Unterstützung sinnvoll ist.