A manufacturing company in Slovakia needs, beyond the basic OSH documentation, safe work procedures and operating instructions for machinery (Government Regulation No. 392/2006 Coll.), periodic inspections of reserved technical equipment (Decree No. 508/2009 Coll.), a noise assessment against the action values of 80 and 85 dB (Government Regulation No. 115/2006 Coll.), an assessment of chemical factors with operating rules (Government Regulation No. 355/2006 Coll.), an employee safety representative, an accident register and an occupational health service. HASPO covers all of it in a flat fee from €76 per month.
Slovak law treats manufacturing as a higher-risk activity: divisions 10 to 32 of the statistical classification of economic activities are listed in Annex 1 to Act No. 124/2006 Coll. on Occupational Safety and Health, which brings extra obligations. This page summarises what a plant manager or a foreign-owned manufacturer needs to have in place.
What is specific to manufacturing?
- Machinery. Every machine must meet the minimum requirements of Government Regulation No. 392/2006 Coll. The employer provides written operating instructions, proves that employees were familiarised with them and keeps records of inspections.
- Reserved technical equipment. Pressure vessels and compressors, cranes and hoists, electrical installations and gas appliances are inspected before commissioning, after repair and at set intervals (Decree No. 508/2009 Coll.). For example, a crane with a capacity above 1,000 kg has a professional inspection once a year and a professional test every 2 years.
- Noise. From the lower action value of 80 dB hearing protectors must be available, from the upper action value of 85 dB they must be worn, and the limit value of 87 dB must not be exceeded (Government Regulation No. 115/2006 Coll.). The values can only be established by noise measurement.
- Chemical factors. Paints, thinners, cutting fluids and adhesives require a risk assessment based on safety data sheets and operating rules with an emergency plan (Government Regulation No. 355/2006 Coll.). Where an explosive atmosphere may occur, a written explosion protection document is required (Government Regulation No. 393/2006 Coll.).
- Safety representative and OSH policy. A manufacturer whose activity is listed in Annex 1 must appoint an employee safety representative (Section 19(1)) and prepare a written OSH policy with an implementation programme (Section 6(1)(k)).
- Work accidents. A registered accident (incapacity for work of more than three days) is recorded within 8 days, a serious accident is reported immediately and the investigation report is sent within 30 days (Section 17 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.).
Key deadlines
| Obligation | Interval | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| OSH training of employees | on hiring and at least every 3 years | Section 7(3) and (5) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Written risk assessment and safe work procedures | continuously, on every change of technology | Section 6(1)(c) and (i) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Inspections and tests of reserved technical equipment | according to the annexes of the decree | Section 9 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll. |
| Health risk report with categorisation of work | category 2 at least every 24 months, categories 3 and 4 every year | Section 30(1) of Act No. 355/2007 Coll. |
What does HASPO provide?
- Safety technician – the occupational safety service required by Section 21 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.: risk assessment, documentation, workplace inspections and investigation of work accidents.
- Fire protection technician – fire documentation, preventive fire inspections and employee training under Act No. 314/2001 Coll.
- Occupational health service for work in categories 1 and 2 – health risk report with categorisation of work, operating rules and organisation of medical examinations under Act No. 355/2007 Coll.
- Training, including e-learning with a certificate.
Related pages: OSH for warehouses and logistics and physical workload assessment.
How much does it cost?
HASPO provides OSH, fire protection and occupational health service in one flat fee from €76 per month; the first month is free. The price depends on the number of employees and the type of operation – the price calculator shows an estimate immediately and we send a binding quote within 24 hours. HASPO has been operating since 1996, has a team of 20 people, four branches (Bratislava, Košice, Banská Bystrica and Vranov nad Topľou) and looks after more than 650 clients across Slovakia.
Frequently asked questions
From what noise level must employees wear hearing protection?
From the upper action value of 85 dB hearing protectors must be worn; from the lower action value of 80 dB the employer must make them available. The limit value of 87 dB must not be exceeded (Government Regulation No. 115/2006 Coll.).
Does a manufacturing company have to appoint an employee safety representative?
Yes. An employer whose activity is listed in Annex 1 to Act No. 124/2006 Coll., which includes manufacturing divisions 10 to 32, must appoint an employee safety representative (Section 19(1)).
By when must a work accident be recorded?
A registered work accident, meaning incapacity for work of more than three days, must be recorded within 8 days. A serious work accident is reported immediately and the investigation report is sent within 30 days (Section 17 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.).
