FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Occupational safety training must be provided when starting employment, when changing workplace or job role, when new work equipment is put into service, and when new technology is introduced. The frequency of refresher training should be determined based on workplace hazards and risks; refreshing knowledge at least annually is recommended. An accident, an unusual event, or a significant change may also require ad-hoc training outside the regular schedule. Training must be documented, and preparing the training curriculum is a specialist task.

A risk assessment must be prepared before starting the activity, and generally reviewed at least every 5 years thereafter. In the case of a significant change – such as new technology, work equipment or a work process – it must be reviewed sooner. Certain risks require more frequent review: every two years for carcinogenic substances, and annually for biological risks. The necessary preventive measures must be defined based on the risk assessment.

From 20 employees upwards, holding an election for an occupational safety representative is mandatory, and the employer must provide the conditions for it. The election must be held within six months of the obligation arising. A representative may also be elected below 20 employees if initiated by an authorised employee representation body or by the majority of employees. The occupational safety representative represents employees' interests in matters relating to safe work.

A workplace accident is one that affects an employee during, or in connection with, organised work, regardless of its location, time, or the employee's own contribution. This can include, for example, work-related travel, collecting materials, eating or washing. Cases resulting in incapacity to work must be investigated, and a workplace accident causing incapacity to work exceeding three working days must be reported, investigated and recorded. The investigation is a specialist occupational safety task.

When multiple companies work on the same site, each employer is responsible for its own employees. Site rules set by the main contractor may be stricter than the legal requirements, but this does not remove the employer's own responsibility. If the employer cannot be identified during an inspection, unless proven otherwise, the party actually directing the work is considered responsible; failing that, the party bearing overall responsibility for the workplace, and finally the party on whose premises the work is taking place.

Foreign companies working in Hungary must comply with Hungarian occupational safety requirements. Besides documentation, this also covers the way work is carried out, work equipment, personal protective equipment, training and on-site rules. It is worth involving a local occupational safety professional before work even begins. HSE Vision also has experience supporting foreign clients, contractors and subcontractors working in Hungary.

There is no single inspection cycle that applies to all lifting equipment. The frequency is determined by the equipment's duty group classification, which takes into account, among other things, the load lifted and the intensity and operating hours of use. This classification is a task for a lifting equipment expert. Depending on the duty group, a structural inspection is due every 3-8 months, a main inspection every 9-24 months, and a periodic safety inspection every 5 years.

Before starting work, an employee must be made familiar with the fire safety rules relevant to their job. In cases specified by law, regular annual fire safety training must also be provided. Regardless, refreshing this knowledge regularly is good practice. A fire, an unusual event, or a significant change may also require ad-hoc training outside the regular schedule. Training must be documented.

Make sure the required occupational safety documents are up to date, have the correct content, and are properly documented, including the necessary signatures. It's worth reviewing training records, fitness-for-work examinations, work equipment inspections, the handling of workplace accidents, first-aid provisions and the obligation to elect an occupational safety representative. On site, the safe condition of work equipment, protective guards, and the adequacy and use of personal protective equipment also matter. The key is that the documentation and the actual way work is carried out are consistent with each other.

Improvement doesn't start with preparing for an audit, but with understanding how things currently work: how the processes function, how much of the written rules is actually implemented, where recurring non-conformities occur, and where the organisation wants to get to. On this basis, responsibilities, risk management and processes can be developed, measures can be consistently followed up, and managers and employees can be engaged. An audit is not the end goal — it's feedback on where the system currently stands and in which direction it's worth developing further.