Roles of the occupational physician and safety specialist in MSST

When engaging MSST specialists is mandatory

In Switzerland, every employer is responsible for the safety and health of their employees. CFST Directive 6508 specifies that engaging external specialists becomes mandatory when risks exceed the company’s internal expertise.

Cases where an occupational physician is required in Switzerland

An occupational physician becomes involved whenever there are exposures that could affect long-term health:

• noise or vibration levels exceeding the limit values,
• handling solvents, dust, fumes or biological agents,
• workplaces involving atypical working hours or a high mental workload,
• frequent cases of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or high absenteeism.

They provide appropriate medical monitoring, advise the employer and propose corrective measures relating to ergonomics, organisation or personal protective equipment.

Situations requiring a safety specialist under CFST Directive 6508

Engaging a safety specialist is required when the company faces major technical or organisational hazards:

• use of dangerous machinery (presses, saws, pressure equipment),
• work at height or in confined spaces,
• risk of fire, explosion (ATEX) or gas leaks,
• handling hazardous chemicals,
• electrical work or maintenance operations requiring lockout/tagout (LOTO).

These specialists help assess risks, draft critical procedures and train employees.

Common risks in SMEs: chemicals, machinery, psychosocial risks, ergonomics

Even service-sector or craft-based SMEs may be affected. The most common hazards include:

• the use of chemical cleaning products without suitable protection,
• workshop machinery that is not properly safeguarded,
• organisational stress and psychosocial risks,
• work-related ergonomic disorders.

In such cases, support from an occupational physician or safety specialist is not merely a constraint: it is an investment that helps prevent accidents, occupational diseases and costly absences.

The role of the occupational physician in MSST

The occupational physician plays a central role in the MSST system. Their role goes far beyond simply issuing a medical certificate: they help build a sustainable workplace health prevention strategy, tailored to the company’s specific risks.

Health prevention and medical monitoring of employees

The occupational physician assesses the impact of working conditions on employee health. They define preventive measures and propose appropriate monitoring where specific risks exist. This includes:

• periodic medical assessments for exposed workers;
• advice on adapting working hours, breaks and work patterns;
• support when returning to work after an accident or occupational disease.

Managing psychosocial risks and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Psychosocial risks (chronic stress, professional exhaustion, burnout) and MSDs (back pain, tendonitis, neck pain) are among the most common problems in Switzerland.
The occupational physician helps to:

• identify organisational risk factors,
• propose measures to reduce mental workload,
• raise management and employee awareness of proactive prevention.

Ergonomics and workplace improvement

An essential part of the occupational physician’s role is analysing workplace ergonomics:

• adjusting chairs, screens and computer workstations,
• optimising repetitive movements,
• recommendations to limit physical fatigue.

These measures help reduce absenteeism and improve productivity.

Monitoring occupational exposures (noise, solvents, dust)

The occupational physician is also responsible for monitoring occupational exposures:

• noise and vibration;
• solvents and fine dust;
• fumes, gases and infectious agents;
• radiation or toxic substances.

They define appropriate medical surveillance protocols, recommend collective or personal protective measures, and alert management if legal limits are exceeded.

The role of the safety specialist in MSST

The safety specialist, recognised under CFST Directive 6508, provides essential technical expertise to prevent serious accidents and control hazardous situations. They complement the occupational physician, focusing on machinery, processes and working environments.

Technical risk analysis for machinery and equipment

The safety specialist conducts in-depth analyses of workplaces and equipment:

• machine compliance (guards, emergency stops, collective safeguards),
• checking locking devices,
• analysing traffic flows (pedestrians / vehicles).

Their role is to anticipate potential accidents and propose concrete corrective measures.

Fire, explosion and chemical safety

Certain activities involve specific hazards requiring advanced expertise:

• fire risks related to electrical equipment, the storage of flammable liquids or welding workshops;
• explosion (ATEX) risks in dusty environments or where gases are handled;
• management of hazardous chemicals: safety data sheets (SDS), storage, labelling and suitable protective equipment.

The specialist defines the technical, organisational and human measures required to ensure safety.

Critical procedures: lockout/tagout (LOTO), permits to work, confined spaces

In industrial or maintenance environments, certain operations require absolute rigour:

• Lockout / tagout (LOTO): securing a machine before any intervention.
• Permit to work: for sensitive activities such as welding, work at height or electrical work.
• Confined spaces: planning, ventilation, atmospheric monitoring and emergency procedures.

The safety specialist develops these critical procedures, trains teams and ensures that they are applied in the field.

Employee safety training and evacuation exercises

An essential part of the role is communicating best practices:

• targeted training (work at height, chemicals, ATEX, machinery),
• raising awareness of the correct use of PPE,
• organising evacuation exercises and incident simulations.

This training strengthens the safety culture and ensures that every employee knows how to respond to hazards.

How to ensure effective collaboration between experts and internal staff

A successful MSST system does not rely solely on the expertise of external specialists: it must be integrated into the life of the company. The key is smooth collaboration between the occupational physician, safety specialist, management, HR and employees.

The role of the safety committee within the organisation

The safety committee (or OHS committee) is where all stakeholders come together. It should regularly include:

• management or its representative,
• the internal OHS manager,
• external specialists (occupational physician, safety specialist),
• employee representatives.

Objectives: monitor progress on actions, share observations from the field, and make rapid, well-documented decisions.

The role of management and HR in MSST coordination

• Management: provides strategic direction, approves resources and ensures that prevention is integrated into the company’s priorities.
• HR: manages administrative monitoring (training records, medical examinations, absence monitoring) and acts as a link between employees and experts.

When management and HR are involved, MSST ceases to be perceived as a constraint and becomes a management tool.

Occupational physician and safety specialist working together: a winning team

These two experts have complementary responsibilities:

• the occupational physician provides expertise in health, ergonomics, psychosocial risks and exposures;
• the safety specialist provides technical expertise, procedures and training.

By working closely together, they:

• enhance hazard assessments (health + technical),
• coordinate action plans,
• avoid duplication or inconsistencies,
• ensure comprehensive risk coverage.

Their collaboration ensures that MSST is not a collection of isolated measures, but an integrated and coherent strategy.

How to choose your MSST experts in Switzerland

Choosing the right specialists is a strategic decision: a competent occupational physician and an experienced safety specialist make the difference between a theoretical MSST system and one that is genuinely effective. Here are the key criteria for selecting the right partners.

Checking certifications and CFST 6508 recognition

In Switzerland, experts must be recognised under CFST Directive 6508.

• The occupational physician must be trained in occupational health and authorised to provide appropriate medical surveillance.
• The safety specialist must hold certification demonstrating their technical and organisational competence.

Always check qualifications and accreditations: this guarantees compliance in the event of a Suva inspection or cantonal inspection.

Prioritising relevant sector experience

A specialist’s expertise depends on their professional background.

• In construction, they will know how to manage risks involving height, machinery, dust and internal traffic.
• In industry, they will be familiar with chemicals, electricity, lockout/tagout (LOTO) and ATEX.
• In the service sector, they will need to master psychosocial risks, ergonomics and stress management.

Choose an expert who understands your sector and your operational constraints.

Defining a clear assignment: scope of work, deliverables and follow-up

Before signing, clarify the scope of work:

• Clear objectives (initial audit, regular monitoring, training).
• Expected deliverables (reports, procedures, certificates).
• Frequency of interventions (one-off, annual, monthly).
• Communication methods (meetings, minutes, reporting).

A clearly defined assignment prevents misunderstandings and makes it possible to measure the expert’s added value.

Outsourcing vs. internal resources: which model should you choose?

• Full outsourcing: practical for SMEs without in-house expertise. Advantage: specialised expertise and up-to-date standards. Disadvantage: external dependency.
• Trained internal resources: helps embed the safety culture in day-to-day operations. Requires specific training and regular monitoring.
• Hybrid model: often the most effective option → an internal coordinator working in partnership with external experts.

What matters is not the model chosen, but ensuring that the company always has qualified and up-to-date expertise to cover its risks.

Conclusion: from perceived “cost” to performance driver

Engaging an occupational physician and a safety specialist is not an unnecessary expense: it is the safest way to turn MSST into an operational advantage. Together, they reduce accidents, limit absenteeism, support successful audits and establish a prevention culture that is visible in the field—not just in the documents.

Key points:

• The occupational physician = health, ergonomics, psychosocial risks, exposures.
• The safety specialist = machinery, chemicals, fire/ATEX, LOTO, procedures.
• The team, supported by management and an internal coordinator, makes your MSST system effective and demonstrable.

Take action

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