Cyber Threats Now Mandatory Part of German Workplace Safety Checks as Daily Vulnerabilities Hit 119
27.06.2026 - 08:14:16 | boerse-global.de
German employers are no longer allowed to treat IT security as a separate issue. Since January, the updated technical rule TRBS 1115 Part 1 has made cybersecurity a compulsory component of every legally required risk assessment — the Gefährdungsbeurteilung. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) now logs roughly 119 new software vulnerabilities each day, and the digital industry association Bitkom puts the total economic damage from cyberattacks at around €289.2 billion.
Keeping up with expanding risk assessment obligations doesn't have to be a headache — whether it's cybersecurity or physical hazards. A free toolkit with 41 ready-to-use templates helps you document workplace risks thoroughly and stay compliant with evolving regulations. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
The regulatory push comes alongside a financial relief measure for companies insured with the Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse (BG ETEM). On Friday, the accident insurance body approved a new Gefahrtarif – the system that calculates employers’ contributions – effective from January 1, 2027, and running until the end of 2032. Under the revised classification, electrical installation work falls into hazard class 9.07, while photography sits at class 3.40. Businesses that have been members for at least three years will qualify for an 18 percent contribution discount starting in 2027.
But physical risks remain equally urgent. In a ruling that directly expands employer obligations, the Hessian State Social Court recognised a fall during a lunch break as a workplace accident — provided the employee was heading to a snack bar while the workplace itself is contractually defined as a company site and the route has an immediate operational connection. In the specific case, a woman broke her upper arm after slipping on her way to buy food during her midday break. The decision forces companies to broaden their home-office hazard assessments well beyond desk ergonomics.
A stark illustration of why safety matters occurred on Friday in Raubling, Upper Bavaria, where a steel staircase weighing roughly 600 kilograms fell onto two workers aged 34 and 38. Both suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to hospitals by rescue helicopters. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, Greece is tightening its own oversight of technical equipment. Elevator owners face a June 30 registration deadline; violators risk fines of up to €5,000 and having their lifts sealed. The trend toward stricter operational safety rules is evident across Europe.
Mental health is also moving up the priority list in Germany. At the 11th Prevention Forum in Berlin on June 23, experts highlighted that psychological illnesses were the third most common cause of absenteeism in 2024. Results from the forum are expected to inform a national strategy aimed at strengthening psychological resilience in the workplace. For smaller employers, the Berufsgenossenschaft Holz und Metall (BGHM) is offering a free introductory seminar on occupational prevention in Saarbrücken on July 1, open to business owners with up to 50 staff.
