German Businesses Face Sweeping New Rules on Time Tracking, Construction Hazards, and Vehicle Safety
Veröffentlicht: 07.07.2026 um 20:06 Uhr, Redaktion boerse-global.de
German companies are navigating a wave of regulatory changes that touch everything from how employees clock in and out to the fumes paving crews breathe on roadworks. The measures, phased in between now and 2027, impose tighter limits on hazardous substances, mandate electronic time records, and require a new suite of safety features in cars and motorhomes.
Electronic Time Recording Arrives in Stages
The most far-reaching workplace change comes from the Federal Ministry of Labour (BMAS). A draft bill would require employers to electronically record the start, end, and duration of each employee’s daily working hours. The obligation falls on the company, even if it delegates the actual logging to staff. Records must be kept for two years.
The push isn’t new. Germany’s Federal Labour Court ruled in September 2022 (case reference 1 ABR 22/21) that the duty to record working hours already arises directly from the Occupational Safety and Health Act. While works councils can negotiate which system is used, they cannot block its introduction altogether.
Implementation will be staggered:
- Most businesses must comply one year after the law comes into force.
- Companies with fewer than 250 employees get two years.
- Those with under 50 employees receive five years.
Micro-enterprises with ten or fewer staff can remain exempt from the electronic format, as can certain sectors covered by collective agreements. Separately, the draft proposes shortening the reference period for the weekly maximum working hours from six months to four.
Stricter limits on hazardous substances like bitumen fumes make proper risk documentation essential. The free COSHH Risk Assessment Toolkit provides 43 fully customizable templates, checklists, and toolbox talks to help you meet your legal duties under COSHH regulations. Just as German paving contractors are preparing for 2027 exposure caps, your business can stay ahead with ready-to-use assessment forms. Download the free COSHH Toolkit
Stricter Bitumen Exposure Limits for Road Construction in 2027
The construction industry faces a specific deadline: from January 2027, the permissible concentration of bitumen fumes in the air will be capped at 1.5 milligrams per cubic metre, as defined in the technical rule for hazardous substances TRGS 900.
Contractors are expected to shift to temperature-reduced asphalt, processed at least 20°C cooler than conventional mixes, which significantly cuts fume exposure. The new standard specification ZTV Asphalt-StB 25 codifies these enhanced safety measures. Paving crews, roller operators, and feeder workers are directly affected.
Digital quality-control systems such as QAA 4.0 are already being deployed to help monitor compliance. For recycled materials, additional testing for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) remains mandatory.
Mandatory Driver-Assistance Systems Take Effect for New Cars
Since today, a new EU regulation (2019/2144) comes into force for all newly registered passenger vehicles. Manufacturers must fit the following systems as standard equipment:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane-keeping assist
- Intelligent speed assistance (ISA)
- Driver drowsiness and distraction warning
The rules also cover motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes. Heavier vehicles face partly more extensive requirements. Self-build camper van conversions are only affected if their first registration occurs after today’s date.
Regulatory change on this scale demands a proactive risk management approach. The free Risk Assessment Toolkit gives you 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists for everything from fire safety to lone working, helping you document controls and stay compliant across all your workplace activities. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
Building Regulations Tighten for Lifts and Gas Systems
Alongside vehicles, fixed installations are drawing fresh scrutiny. Lift safety remains governed by the Industrial Safety Regulation and the DIN EN 81-20/50 standards, with redundant brakes and up-to-date emergency-call systems playing a central role.
For mobile gas systems in caravans and motorhomes, a new DVGW technical sheet (G 607) sets out requirements. Gas cylinders must be secured without tools, fitted with an external filling connection and a safety coupling, and inspected every ten years. Filling such cylinders at public petrol stations remains prohibited in Germany.
