Arbeitsplatz-Auditor/Arbeitsplatz-Auditorin

ARBEIT. Journal for Work Research, Work Design and Labor Policy, arbeitssicherheit.de - Success with Safety, Changing World of Work: Numbers - Data - Facts, Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy GDA, Good Work. Journal for Occupational Safety and Health and Work Design, Initiative New Quality of Work (INQA), præview - Journal for Innovative Work Design and Prevention, Publications of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (baua), QZ Quality and Reliability, Safe is Safe.

Workplace auditors typically work in offices, workshops, and factory or production halls. They may also work from home or remotely if necessary.

Core competencies fundamentally required in this profession include: Workplace analysis, workplace design, labor law, occupational safety and health, accident prevention, ergonomics, identifying, recording, and reporting deficiencies, REFA (a German industrial engineering methodology), and workplace management. Further competencies that may be significant for practicing this profession are: Work science, reporting and information, manufacturing technology, cost and performance accounting, customer consulting and support, noise protection, logistics, wage, salary, and collective bargaining systems, human resources, shelf inspection DIN EN 15635, environmental hygiene, and time studies.

Workplace auditors examine work processes and workplaces from health and economic perspectives. They interact with employees and company representatives, presenting their findings and collaborating, for example, on concepts to improve occupational safety. This requires willingness to engage and strong communication skills. Since the design of workplaces depends on their work, workplace auditors proceed carefully and responsibly. When implementing measures, they ensure compliance with legal norms for workplace design and, if necessary, suggest optimizations. While collecting data at workplaces, they may be exposed to dirt, noise (e.g., from machines), odors and fumes (e.g., from chemical solutions), and common on-site accident hazards. This may necessitate wearing protective work clothing.

Workplace auditors can become self-employed, for instance, by starting a company for ergonomics consulting.

Example monthly gross basic salary (according to collective agreement): 3,843 € to 4,525 €. Source: Tariff collection of the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs. Note: This information is for orientation purposes only. No claims can be derived from it.

Construction, Architecture, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Plastics, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Energy, Supply and Waste Management, Vehicle Manufacturing and Maintenance, Financial Services, Real Estate, Health, Social Services, Glass, Ceramics, Raw Material Processing, Hotel, Restaurants, Tourism, IT, Software, Telecommunications, Metal, Mechanical Engineering, Precision Mechanics, Optics, Food and Beverage Production, Raw Material Extraction and Processing, Textile, Clothing, Leather, Transport, Traffic.

Employers often expect further training (Weiterbildung) in the REFA field (possibly after a prior Studium (university degree)).

Workplace auditors can find employment in companies across all economic sectors.

Workplace auditors examine and optimize workplaces and work processes.

Job and application portals in engineering: ingenieur.de, ingenieur1.de, ingenieurweb.

Federal Association of Auditors (Bundesverband der Auditoren e.V.) and German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund - DGB).

Working conditions require adherence to various regulations and legal requirements, such as EU directives and national/European law concerning workplace design. There is responsibility for the health of employees. Screen work is common, using general and specialized software for analyzing findings and documenting results. Work takes place in offices, workshops, and production halls.

Tools and equipment include various documents such as EU directives and standards, norms and laws for workplace design, inspection instructions, inspection result documentation, safety reports and evidence, procedural and work instructions, and process flow documentation. Office equipment like PCs, telephones, internet access, and video conferencing tools are also used.

Workplace auditors examine workplace design and organization in companies. They analyze processes at various workplaces, considering ergonomic, technical, and work-organizational aspects. They prepare documents, conduct cost calculations, and evaluate human labor. Additionally, they prepare and, if necessary, conduct internal and external audits themselves. They propose improvement measures in collaboration with quality management and check whether companies implement them. Furthermore, they discuss with company representatives how occupational safety can be further improved.

Access to this profession may be possible through roles such as REFA Engineer (Industrial Engineering), REFA Operations Manager, or REFA Technician.

Continuing vocational training (Anpassungsweiterbildung) helps keep professional knowledge current and adapt it to new developments, for example, in areas such as quality management, quality assurance, quality inspection, occupational and plant safety, operational organization, and work study.

Depending on prior professional education, further career opportunities open up through a bachelor's (grundständiges Studium) or master's (weiterführendes Studium) degree (e.g., in engineering or industrial business administration). Following an engineering or natural science degree, further training (Weiterbildung) as a REFA Engineer for Industrial Engineering may also be an option. Under certain conditions, it is also possible to study (Studium) without a general higher education entrance qualification. For more information: Access to higher education in the individual federal states (Bundesländer).

Analyze workplace design and organization in companies. Control adherence to guidelines and norms. Analyze and document processes at different workplaces. Identify workplace burdens, such as noise. Prepare documents for requirements determination and performance-based remuneration. Conduct cost calculations. Prepare and/or conduct internal and external audits. Identify optimization possibilities and contribute to their implementation. Collaborate with quality management. Discuss improvement measures for occupational safety with company representatives. Check the implementation and effectiveness of measures. Potentially participate in the planning of future premises and workplaces.