Berlin Seeks New Workplace Safety Chief as Germany’s Building Sector Navigates Digital and Regulatory Overhaul

Berlin recruits senior safety official; German construction marks VOB centenary; new training on workplace safety, NIS-2, and AI certificates offered.

The Berlin state government has opened recruitment for a senior role that will shape occupational safety enforcement in the capital. Applications for the head of the Department of Operational Safety I at the State Office for Occupational Safety, Health Protection and Technical Security (LAGetSi) are accepted until 19 June 2026. The successful candidate will oversee strategic priority actions and investigate workplace accidents.

The job posting comes at a time when Germany’s construction industry – which just marked the 100th anniversary of its foundational regulatory framework, the Vergabe- und Vertragsordnung für Bauleistungen (VOB) – is juggling new compliance duties, international knowledge transfer, and a wave of digital tools.

Felix Pakleppa of the German Construction Industry Federation described the VOB as a “fundamental set of rules” that ensures uniform contracts and quality standards across the sector. The centenary was celebrated on 6 May 2026.

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Georgia Draws on German Expertise

Since 2024, the association BAUVERBÄNDE.NRW has been supporting the Georgian partner organisation BusinessGeorgia in a project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The three-year initiative offers consulting, training and a roundtable to raise safety standards in Georgia’s construction sector.

Security policy also weighed on the sector. In Düsseldorf on 28 May 2026, Mona Neubaur and Dr Dirk Günnewig discussed defence and resilience at a conference, asking what new demands the shifting security landscape places on businesses.

New Training Offers Target Different Audiences

Two webinars are scheduled for 10 June 2026. The Centro di Formazione STS is running a four-hour online seminar on safety when working at height. Engineers, architects and safety coordinators can earn continuing education credits.

On the same day, G DATA CyberDefense AG is hosting a webinar on the NIS-2 directive. Companies in 18 sectors – including construction – must report security incidents within set deadlines under the new rules.

Practical fire protection training takes place on 26 June 2026 in Uetersen. A course to qualify fire safety assistants combines theory with a live extinguishing exercise.

Technology is also streamlining site safety. The RECA CONLOG 2.0 materials cabinet monitors stock of personal protective equipment and consumables, and automatically reorders when supplies run low.

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AI Certificate and Master’s Programmes at OTH Regensburg

The Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg is expanding its continuing education portfolio. Several information sessions are planned in June 2026:

• 11 June: MBA programme
• 17 June: Master’s in Leadership and Communication Management
• 26 June: New certificate in Artificial Intelligence
• 18 July: Start of the Master’s in Information Technology

Compliance Pressure and Hybrid Consulting

A dedicated compliance guide for construction firms covers NIS-2 reporting duties and fire protection requirements, including a checklist, training plans for fire safety assistants, and tips for smart materials management.

Service providers such as Diemer, which advises more than 8,500 clients, report steady demand for external safety consulting. The company increasingly uses hybrid formats that combine on-site visits with online modules.