Occupational Safety Stakeholders in Switzerland: Suva, SECO, CFST/EKAS and Cantonal Labour Inspectorates

2025 overview: who does what in occupational safety in Switzerland (at a glance)

Occupational safety in Switzerland is based on an ecosystem of complementary stakeholders: SECO / Federal Labour Inspectorate, CFST/EKAS, Suva and the cantonal labour inspectorates. Understanding who does what helps avoid duplication, speeds up MSST compliance and improves your preparation for inspections. In brief:

• SECO coordinates and supervises enforcement at federal level of the Employment Act and, outside Suva’s scope, the Accident Insurance Act.
• CFST/EKAS issues directives, including 6508/MSST, and clarifies the organisation of enforcement.
• Suva enforces the Accident Insurance Act in businesses with particular hazards (OPA, Art. 49) and inspects certain work equipment; elsewhere, responsibility lies with the cantonal labour inspectorates.
• The obligation to provide accident insurance and health protection under the Employment Act applies to the vast majority of companies and employees.

For practical implementation (teams, prioritisation and records), see our occupational health and safety page (MSST).

Guide objectives: understanding the roles and avoiding confusion between Suva and cantonal labour inspectorates

This guide serves as an operational compass for executives, HR, HSE and operations managers facing very practical questions:

• Who inspects me? If you operate in a sector where prevention requires special knowledge (OPA, Art. 49), such as construction, specialised work or high-risk equipment, Suva is responsible; in other cases, responsibility generally lies with the cantonal labour inspectorates (under SECO supervision).
• What does each stakeholder check? Suva and the inspectorates examine the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases, risk management, equipment, documentation and training; SECO ensures consistency in enforcement.
• What must I prove? CFST Directive 6508 requires a proportionate MSST system (hazard assessment, measures plan, training and follow-up) to demonstrate that the employer is fulfilling its duties.

The result: no grey areas between Suva, the cantons and SECO, an MSST system sized to your risks, and inspections that run smoothly.

Legal framework at a glance: Employment Act, Accident Insurance Act, OPA and CFST Directive 6508 (MSST)

CFST Directive 6508 (MSST): operationalises the obligation to call on occupational physicians and occupational safety specialists; it does not change the scope of application of the OPA, but describes how to organise your MSST system (thresholds, roles, tasks and records).

Employment Act: the basis for health protection, ergonomics, working hours and working conditions; the foundation for cantonal inspections coordinated by SECO.

Accident Insurance Act: mandatory insurance for employees against accidents and occupational diseases; it establishes prevention and the employer’s duties (Art. 82).

OPA – Ordinance on the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational Diseases: specifies the organisation of enforcement (Arts. 47–50), allocates responsibilities (including the list of sectors and equipment falling under Suva’s responsibility in Art. 49) and sets cross-cutting requirements.

MSST: when and why to call in specialists (CFST 6508 obligations)

Calling on occupational safety specialists and occupational physicians is not a “comfort” option: it is the backbone of a credible MSST system. It becomes mandatory as soon as the company is exposed to particular hazards or when internal expertise is insufficient to guarantee effective prevention. This applies to industry and construction as well as to services exposed to specific risks (electricity, chemicals, handling, machinery, working at height, ATEX environments, night work, psychosocial risks, etc.).
In practice, a structured hazard assessment must determine whether the company can manage the situation independently or must call on external experts to design, implement and audit preventive measures.
Practical guide: implementing an MSST system >

MSST obligations for SMEs: thresholds, risks and employer responsibilities

The employer remains responsible for the outcome: protecting employees’ health and safety, demonstrating effective risk control and maintaining operations over time. The MSST directive specifies that the company must be able to prove that it has established an organisation proportionate to its risks. In practice, this means:

• Assessing hazards: mapping dangerous situations (operations, workstations, products, installations and third-party interventions), estimating probability and severity, and prioritising.
• Planning and documenting: defining OHS objectives, a measures plan (technical, organisational and human), responsible persons and deadlines.
• Training and authorising: ensuring that every person has the required skills (lockout/tagout, BLS-AED-SRC first aid, fire safety and evacuation, PPE, critical procedures), and keeping training records up to date.
• Establishing instructions and operating procedures: clear, accessible and adapted to the workplace, including non-routine or outsourced activities.
• Monitoring and improving: tracking indicators (accidents, near misses, audits and overdue actions), conducting management reviews, correcting issues and retaining lessons learned.
• Calling in specialists whenever necessary: high hazard levels, major changes (new line, new process or new products), multiple sites or recurring early warning signs (repeated incidents, non-conformities, musculoskeletal disorders or psychosocial risks).

Quick diagnostic tip: if at least one of these warning signs applies — a serious risk that is not fully controlled, a proven lack of internal expertise, or regular exposure to unusual or complex operations — involve an MSST specialist and/or occupational physician without delay.

MSST team: occupational safety specialist, occupational physician and health protection

An effective MSST team is multidisciplinary and sized to the realities of the workplace:

• Occupational safety specialist (STPS): risk analysis, technical and organisational compliance, action planning, audits, and support for improvement projects (machinery, ergonomics, handling, chemicals, ATEX, lockout/tagout, work permits, etc.).
• Occupational physician / health protection specialist: medical monitoring, prevention of occupational diseases, health surveillance related to exposures, advice on fitness for work, and prevention of musculoskeletal and psychosocial risks.
• Internal coordinator (HSE/HR/Management): leads implementation, arbitrates priorities, tracks indicators and drives safety (briefings, safety talks and lessons learned).
• Workplace network (team leaders, operators, maintenance and QSE): puts instructions into practice, reports early warning signs and contributes to incident analyses.

The role of specialists is not to “take over” the company, but to transfer the method: provide tools, train, create prevention routines and then build autonomy, while ensuring periodic expert oversight.

Take action: MSST audit and compliance plan

To move from “theory” to measurable results, structure your approach around three concrete deliverables:

1. MSST audit
   • Document review: policy, responsibility chart, hazard assessment, prevention plans, training register, instructions, and accident/event register.
   • Workplace visit: observation of workstations, machinery, traffic routes, storage areas, maintenance work, PPE, lockout/tagout, notices, first-aid kit, evacuation plans and fire extinguishers.
   • Targeted interviews: management, supervisors, employee representatives, maintenance and critical subcontractors.
   • Summary of “major risks / critical gaps / opportunities” and preliminary prioritisation.
2. 90-day roadmap
   • Quick wins (high impact, rapid implementation): simple physical corrections, clarification of instructions, missing notices, PPE replacement, refresher training on key actions (fire safety, first aid and lockout/tagout).
   • Structural projects: upgrading the hazard assessment, standardising operating procedures, introducing a musculoskeletal and psychosocial risk prevention programme, and securing interventions (hot-work permits, lockout/tagout and authorised personnel).
   • Governance: monthly routines, dashboard, responsible persons, deadlines and success criteria.
3. Compliance and maturity development
   • Progressive rollout across priority sites and teams, training of internal coordinators and follow-up audits.
   • Integration of OHS KPIs into operational performance (frequency, severity, action closure rate, training coverage rate and near-miss reporting rate).
   • Quarterly management review and adjustments.

SECO and the Federal Labour Inspectorate: national coordination and supervision of enforcement

Through the Federal Labour Inspectorate, SECO acts as the conductor of enforcement in Switzerland. Its mission is to harmonise practices between cantons, ensure legal consistency and lead federal inspections in areas falling under the Confederation. In practice, SECO sets national priorities (campaigns and inspection themes), publishes guidelines for interpreting requirements, coordinates the networks of cantonal labour inspectorates and works with Suva to avoid overlaps.
For a company, this provides a clear reference framework: the same minimum requirements throughout Switzerland, the same documentary expectations and improved inspector expertise through a shared doctrine.

SECO’s role in occupational safety: duties, areas covered, and interaction with the cantons and Suva

• Coordination and harmonisation: SECO ensures the uniform application of occupational health and safety rules, particularly on cross-cutting issues (hazard assessment, MSST organisation, ergonomics, working hours and night work, young workers, maternity and psychosocial risks).
• Supervision and management: it plans national campaigns (by topic or sector), monitors enforcement indicators and publishes recommendations to correct identified gaps.
• Targeted federal inspections: the Federal Labour Inspectorate conducts inspections in areas falling under federal responsibility and acts as a reference authority when questions of interpretation arise.
• Interface with the cantons and Suva: coordination meetings, shared doctrine and lessons learned (serious accidents and high-impact incidents), along with clarification of responsibilities between cantonal labour inspectorates and Suva according to the nature of the risks and activities.
• Methodological support: distribution of guides, checklists and tools to help companies and inspectors assess risks and document preventive measures.

When SECO intervenes in practice: case examples, thematic inspections and recommendations

• National campaigns: for example, one year may focus on manual handling and musculoskeletal disorders, another on machine safety, night work or the prevention of hazardous substances. Targeted companies are informed of the priority topics and may be inspected on these aspects.
• Inspections within the federal remit: scheduled or unannounced inspections, often thematic, including interviews, workplace visits, sample document checks and structured feedback (findings, requirements and deadlines).
• Clarification of interpretation: when a canton and a company disagree about the scope of a requirement, SECO can clarify the interpretation to be adopted in order to align practice nationwide.
• Lessons learned after events: following a major accident or recurring incident, SECO may publish sector-specific recommendations to generalise lessons learned and prevent high-risk scenarios from recurring.

Documents expected during a federal inspection: policies, hazard assessments and action plans

During an inspection led at federal level, the expectations are clear and comparable from one site to another. Prepare a structured compliance file based on four pillars:

1. Governance and responsibilities
   • Formalised and communicated health and safety policy.
   • Roles and responsibilities (management, MSST coordinator, external specialists, supervisors and workplace coordinators).
   • Minutes of safety committee meetings and safety routines (briefings, safety talks and lessons learned).
2. Risk control
   • Updated hazard assessment (method, results and priorities).
   • Dated action plans with responsible persons, deadlines and progress status.
   • Technical files: machinery and equipment compliance, lockout/tagout, work permits, preventive maintenance and periodic inspections.
3. Skills, information and training
   • Training and authorisation records (fire safety, first aid, BLS-AED-SRC, PPE and critical operations).
   • Up-to-date and accessible instructions and operating procedures, including non-routine activities and third-party interventions.
   • Onboarding and refresher arrangements (new employees, subcontractors and high-risk positions).
4. Monitoring, oversight and continuous improvement
   • Key indicators (accidents, near misses, action closure rate, training coverage and audits).
   • Event register, incident analyses and corrective measures.
   • Periodic management review, improvement plan and internal communication.

CFST/EKAS: directives, standards and practical tools for companies

CFST/EKAS acts as a compass for enforcement in Switzerland: it issues directives, harmonises interpretation and provides practical tools to help companies prove that they control their risks. For an SME, the benefit is twofold: knowing what to implement and how to document it in order to move from intention to operational compliance.

CFST Directive 6508 explained simply: objectives, scope and records to retain

Directive 6508 formalises the involvement of occupational physicians and occupational safety specialists and describes how to organise a proportionate MSST system. In practice, it requires companies to:

• Assess hazards systematically (work situations, processes, products, non-routine interventions and third parties).
• Assign clear responsibilities (management, MSST coordinator, external specialists, supervisors and workplace coordinators).
• Plan technical, organisational and human measures, with deadlines and responsible persons.
• Train and authorise exposed employees (first-aid actions, fire safety and evacuation, PPE, lockout/tagout, handling, working at height and chemicals).
• Monitor and improve through indicators, internal audits, incident analyses and management reviews.
• Retain records: hazard assessments, action plans, training and authorisation records, job descriptions, operating procedures, audit reports and dashboards.

Key message: 6508 does not add endless obligations; it operationalises prevention so that it is traceable, measurable and verifiable.

CFST/EKAS tools to know: checklists, procedure templates and mandatory notices

CFST/EKAS provides a range of ready-to-use tools. Useful resources for an SME include:

• “Hazard assessment” checklist: a framework for mapping, weighting and prioritising risks.
• Action plan templates: action–responsible person–deadline–status tables for managing and proving progress.
• Machine safety: checklists covering guards, lockout/tagout, compliance upgrades and periodic inspections.
• Handling and ergonomics: musculoskeletal risk assessment grids for repetitive workstations, adjustments, aids and manual-handling training.
• Chemicals/hazardous agents: substance inventory, use of safety data sheets, labelling, storage, ventilation and associated PPE.
• Working at height and work permits: standardised procedures, preliminary checks, guardrails/scaffolding/anchor points and rescue plans.
• Display screens, remote working and psychosocial risks: practical guides for display-screen work, workplace adaptations, mental workload, and alert and support systems.
• Essential notices: emergency instructions, evacuation, useful telephone numbers, PPE rules and alert procedures.

How to use them effectively:

1. Start with an express assessment using 3–5 checklists relevant to your core activities.
2. Convert gaps into a prioritised action plan (90 days).
3. Establish a monthly routine: progress review, incidents and new risks.
4. Centralise records in a single MSST file, either paper or digital.
5. Review the checklists whenever there is a change (machinery, process, organisation or products).

Suva: LAA enforcement body for high-risk sectors (who is concerned?)

Suva is the reference stakeholder for companies exposed to particular hazards. It combines the roles of accident insurer, prevention body and enforcement authority: it inspects, advises, publishes requirements and monitors their implementation. In practice, it focuses primarily on sectors and operations with a high level of risk (construction, civil engineering, manufacturing, woodworking and metalworking, industrial maintenance, electrical work, waste management, energy, work at height, explosive atmospheres, etc.).

Suva’s role in occupational safety: prevention, inspections, advice and training

• Preventing and managing major risks: machinery and installations, temporary work at height, electricity, load handling, chemicals, ATEX, internal traffic and human–machine interfaces.
• Inspecting and requiring action: site visits, document reviews, equipment checks, assessment of measures in place, and formulation of requirements with deadlines and expected records.
• Advising and providing tools: technical recommendations, checklists, sector-specific guides, lessons learned after incidents, good lockout/tagout practices, authorised personnel and work permits.
• Training and raising awareness: targeted training programmes (machine safety, working at height, chemicals and first aid), annual prevention campaigns and thematic initiatives.

Operational objective: prevention that is measurable and traceable. Suva expects companies to demonstrate systematic risk control and the sustainability of their measures (technical, organisational and human).

Suva or cantonal inspectorate? How to determine who inspects you based on your activities

To determine who inspects you, start with the nature of your activities and the critical operations carried out every day:

Typically Suva

• Construction and civil engineering sites (scaffolding, formwork, cranes and lifting).
• Manufacturing industry: wood, metal, plastics, food processing, printing and mechanical workshops.
• Industrial maintenance and work on production equipment.
• Electrical work, ATEX interventions, working at height, cutting and presses.
• Waste management and treatment, depots and energy sites.

Typically cantonal labour inspectorates

• Services and the tertiary sector (banking, insurance, IT, professional offices and retail) without high-risk processes.
• Public administration, schools, culture and healthcare, outside technical activities involving particular hazards.
• Organisations focused on working conditions and health protection (working hours, ergonomics and workload).

Mixed cases / multiple sites

• A company may fall under different authorities depending on the site or dominant activity. In practice, the determining factors are risk exposure and the operations actually carried out (production, construction sites, maintenance and specialised subcontracting).
• If you carry out “particular hazard” operations in-house, such as electrical maintenance or work at height, expect requirements aligned with Suva standards, even if your core business is in the tertiary sector.

Express assessment: if your activities involve machinery, temporary work at height, dangerous energy sources, hazardous substances or critical non-routine interventions, act as though you fall within Suva’s scope: formalise your risks, lock down technical controls, document and train.

Suva inspections: frequency, process, common non-conformities and possible follow-up

Frequency

• This depends on the level of risk, the incident history, MSST maturity and situational factors (new line, new process or notable accident).
• Visits may be announced or unannounced; some are thematic (machinery, working at height, chemicals, etc.).

Typical visit process

1. Opening briefing: site presentation, activities, MSST organisation and sensitive areas.
2. Document review: hazard assessment, action plan, training and authorisation records, critical procedures (lockout/tagout, hot-work, work-at-height and confined-space permits), accident and inspection registers.
3. Workplace tour: observation of workstations, guards, traffic routes, storage areas, lockout/tagout, PPE, emergency stops, notices and instructions.
4. Targeted interviews: supervisors, maintenance staff, operators and subcontractors.
5. Debrief: findings, requirements, deadlines and supporting documents expected (photos, reports, certificates, test records and training records). Follow-up is scheduled.

Commonly identified non-conformities

• Incomplete or outdated hazard assessment (changes not incorporated and subcontractors omitted).
• Insufficient machine safety: missing guards, possible bypassing, non-compliant emergency stops and no machine risk assessments.
• Inadequate lockout/tagout: missing procedures, untrained personnel, shared padlocks and no zero-energy test.
• Unsafe work at height: missing guardrails, uncertified anchor points, unverified PPE and no rescue plan.
• Chemicals: outdated inventory and safety data sheets, incompatible storage, insufficient ventilation and no operating procedures.
• ATEX: no zoning, unsuitable equipment and inadequate control of ignition sources.
• Handling/musculoskeletal risks: no plan to reduce physical workload, neglected ergonomics and insufficient technical aids.
• Outdated training: first aid, fire safety and evacuation, machine authorisations and specialised work.
• Unsuitable or poorly used PPE: deficiencies in selection, maintenance and traceability.

Possible follow-up

• Written requirements with strict deadlines and records to be provided.
• Targeted reinspection to verify compliance.
• In the event of serious and imminent danger, immediate stoppage of a machine or operation until sufficient corrections have been made.
• If requirements are not met, increased monitoring and escalation to the competent authorities.

How to prepare effectively

• Create a single MSST file: policy, responsibilities, hazard assessment, action plan, training and authorisation records, critical procedures, and evidence of inspections and tests.
• Prioritise a 90-day plan: physical quick wins, securing critical operations and targeted refresher training (BLS-AED-SRC first aid, fire safety/evacuation, lockout/tagout and working at height).
• Schedule quarterly internal audits on major topics (machinery, working at height, chemicals and ATEX) and retain lessons learned.

Cantonal labour inspectorates: duties, scope and local specificities

Cantonal labour inspectorates are the local point of contact for the majority of companies in French-speaking Switzerland. They monitor health protection, working conditions and accident prevention in companies that do not fall within Suva’s enforcement remit. Their added value is practical support rooted in local realities (company profiles, construction sites, urban constraints, multilingualism and cross-border activity), along with the ability to prioritise what matters for day-to-day health and safety.

Labour inspection by canton: Vaud, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Valais and Jura (overview)

Each canton organises its inspectorate according to its size, key sectors and annual priorities. In practice:

• Vaud: high density of industry and construction sites, together with a significant tertiary sector. Recurring focus on the ergonomics of fixed workstations and the safety of maintenance interventions in SMEs.
• Geneva: highly service-based economy, urban logistics, hospitality and catering, and international organisations. Strong monitoring of working hours, workload, night work and the layout of display-screen workstations.
• Neuchâtel: precision industries, microtechnology and watchmaking. Focus on machine safety, process chemicals and fine ergonomics.
• Fribourg: a mix of food processing, logistics, construction and services. Cross-cutting inspections covering internal traffic, handling and MSST documentation.
• Valais: construction sites, energy, industry and tourism. Particular attention to working at height, weather conditions (heat and cold) and emergency preparedness.
• Jura: a network of industrial and craft SMEs. Frequent topics include machinery, tools, new employee training and near-miss follow-up.

Good practice: each cantonal inspectorate generally publishes its own recommendations and forms (declarations, requests for exemptions and campaign topics). Aligning with these local expectations speeds up compliance.

What the cantonal inspectorate checks: working hours, premises, ergonomics, health and safety

Inspectors assess both the organisation and the workplace. Expect an inspection covering, in particular:

• Organisation and responsibilities
  • Health and safety policy, MSST coordinator, and the roles of management and supervisors.
  • Existence of an MSST system proportionate to the risks, with reviews and indicators.
• Working conditions and health protection
  • Working hours, breaks, night and Sunday work, and protection of young people and pregnant women.
  • Ergonomics of workstations (screens, offices and workshops), prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks.
  • Physical conditions: noise, lighting, temperature and ventilation.
• Prevention of accidents and occupational diseases
  • Up-to-date hazard assessment and technical and organisational measures.
  • Safety of machinery and equipment: guards, emergency stops, maintenance and periodic inspections.
  • Non-routine work: lockout/tagout, hot-work, work-at-height and confined-space permits, and rescue plan.
  • Chemicals: inventory, safety data sheets, storage, labelling, operating procedures and PPE.
  • Fire safety and evacuation: plan, first-response equipment, signage and drills.
  • Subcontracting: safety coordination, induction, authorisations and supervision.
• Skills and records
  • Training and authorisation records (first aid, BLS-AED-SRC, fire safety and evacuation, and critical operations).
  • Visible and understood instructions, with accessible operating procedures.
  • Accident and near-miss register, analyses and follow-up actions.

Common errors identified: incomplete hazard assessments, outdated instructions, insufficient induction training, inadequate lockout/tagout, underestimated ergonomics in the service sector and no structured action follow-up.

Preparing for an inspection visit: records, notices, instructions and training records

Anticipate the inspection as a demonstration exercise: you must prove that your organisation protects health and controls risks.

Express document checklist

• Health and safety policy, responsibility chart and contact details for the MSST coordinator.
• Updated hazard assessment (scope, method, results and priorities).
• Dated action plan: actions, responsible persons, deadlines and status.
• Records: training and authorisations, accidents and near misses, and periodic inspections (machinery, PPE, fire extinguishers, ventilation and lifting equipment).
• Instructions and operating procedures: lockout/tagout, work permits, chemicals and emergency interventions.
• Records of employee information: induction, safety talks, safety briefings and notices.

10-point workplace compliance check

1. Display-screen workstations and workshops correctly adjusted (height, supports and lighting).
2. Traffic routes clear, with clear signage.
3. Machinery guarded, emergency stops tested and no bypassing.
4. Dangerous energy sources: lockout/tagout procedures, individual padlocks and zero-energy tests.
5. Safe storage: loads, chemicals and controlled incompatibilities.
6. PPE available, suitable and maintained, with verified traceability.
7. Evacuation plans up to date, fire extinguishers accessible and personnel trained.
8. Instructions displayed and understood, including non-routine activities and subcontractors.
9. Ergonomics addressed: adjustments, handling aids and job rotation where necessary.
10. Event register maintained, analyses shared and actions followed up.

90-day strategy

• Weeks 1–2: document review, correction of critical gaps and updating of notices.
• Weeks 3–6: securing high-risk operations (machinery, lockout/tagout, working at height and chemicals), and targeted refresher training.
• Weeks 7–12: thematic internal audits, action control, management review and sustainability plan.

Who does what: comparative stakeholder table (downloadable)

A clear “who does what” comparison helps your teams quickly identify the competent contact, documentary expectations and possible follow-up. Integrate this table into the page in HTML and provide a downloadable PDF for on-site printing and onboarding new employees.

Comparison of Suva / SECO / CFST-EKAS / cantonal labour inspectorates: duties, legal bases and sanctions

Request an MSST audit

Stakeholder	Role & scope	For whom	Types of inspections / interventions	Documents expected during an audit	Possible follow-up
Suva	Enforcement body for sectors and operations involving particular hazards; prevention, inspections, technical requirements and follow-up	Companies exposed to high risks (construction, industry, maintenance, electricity, ATEX and working at height, etc.)	Site visits (announced or unannounced), thematic campaigns, machinery and equipment checks, and requirements with deadlines	Hazard assessment, action plan, machine compliance records, lockout/tagout procedures, authorisations, training records, accident registers and evidence of periodic inspections	Written requirements, reinspection, stoppage of a machine or operation in the event of serious danger, and increased monitoring
SECO / Federal Labour Inspectorate	National coordination of enforcement; federal inspections in designated areas; harmonisation of practices	Companies falling under the federal remit or cases requiring clarification of interpretation	National campaigns, thematic inspections, consistency audits and official recommendations	OHS governance, hazard assessment, action plans, procedural compliance, indicators and management reviews	Recommendations and alignment requirements, compliance deadlines and progress monitoring
CFST/EKAS	Issues directives and tools; coordinates and harmonises interpretation for all enforcement bodies	All companies and enforcement bodies	No direct company “inspection”: provides reference frameworks, checklists, guides and templates	Not applicable (methodological framework)	Not applicable (compliance and evidence framework)
Cantonal labour inspectorates	Enforcement of health protection and working conditions for the majority of companies outside Suva’s remit	Services, public administration, healthcare, education, retail, logistics, services and more	Scheduled or unannounced inspections, local thematic inspections and checks of ergonomics, working hours and MSST organisation	OHS policy, responsibility chart, hazard assessment, action plan, instructions, training records, event registers and periodic inspections	Written requirements, deadlines and follow-up inspections; immediate measures in the event of serious risk

Implementation good practices:

• Add a colour code for visually tracking requirements by stakeholder.
• Add a “Who to contact” column with your internal contacts (MSST coordinator, management and maintenance) to speed up responses to inspectors.
• Provide a “Download PDF” button for the table, together with a printable version displayed in the break room and workshop.

Who to contact in your situation: industry, construction, healthcare, services and public administration

Industry / workshops / maintenance

• Main contact: Suva.
• Priorities: machinery safety, lockout/tagout, working at height, chemicals/ATEX, competency training and periodic inspections.
• Prepare: machine risk analyses, compliance upgrade plans, intervention procedures, and records of tests and training.

Construction / civil engineering / temporary worksites

• Main contact: Suva.
• Priorities: collective protection, scaffolding, lifting, coordination between companies, hot-work permits and rescue plans.
• Prepare: prevention plans, assembly and inspection certificates, safety briefing records and PPE checks.

Healthcare / social care / laboratories

• Main contact: cantonal labour inspectorate (and specific contacts depending on the activity).
• Priorities: patient handling, accidental needlestick injuries, biosafety, ergonomics and working-time organisation.
• Prepare: hygiene protocols, job descriptions, substance inventories, manual-handling training and incident registers.

Services / tertiary sector (banking, IT, insurance and retail)

• Main contact: cantonal labour inspectorate.
• Priorities: display-screen ergonomics, mental workload, remote working, working-time organisation and fire safety/evacuation.
• Prepare: psychosocial and musculoskeletal risk assessments, remote-working policies, evacuation instructions, and first-aid and fire-safety training records.

Public administration / public institutions / education

• Contact: depending on the scope, the cantonal labour inspectorate; coordination with SECO for certain areas.
• Priorities: health protection, ergonomic adaptations, management of members of the public, emergency plan and accessibility.
• Prepare: risk assessments by building or site, evacuation plans, safety maintenance records and evidence that staff have been informed.

Hybrid cases / multiple sites

• The same company may deal with two different authorities depending on its activities. Centralise the risk map by site, appoint a single MSST coordinator and maintain a decision register (who does what, requirements, deadlines and records).

Practical scenarios for SMEs: compliance examples by sector

Let’s move from “who does what” to the workplace. Here are four typical scenarios, with key risks, expected inspections and a 90-day MSST plan to achieve a solid and verifiable level of compliance.

Mechanical and bodywork workshop: risks, typical inspections and a 90-day MSST action plan

Key risks

• Machinery (guards, emergency stops and interlocks), grinders, presses and vehicle lifts.
• Dangerous energy sources and lockout/tagout.
• Chemicals (solvents, paints and strippers), and ventilation.
• Handling and musculoskeletal risks, internal traffic and fire.

What the inspector checks first

• Up-to-date machine risk analyses and evidence of compliance upgrades.
• Operational lockout/tagout procedures, individual padlocks and zero-energy test.
• Chemical inventory, safety data sheets, storage, extraction/ventilation and PPE.
• Competency training (machinery, fire safety/evacuation and first aid), with signed records.
• Evacuation plans, fire extinguishers, notices and periodic equipment maintenance.

90-day plan

• Weeks 1–2: rapid machinery and chemical audit, simple physical corrections (guards, labels and signage), and safety notices.
• Weeks 3–6: roll-out of lockout/tagout, rapid team training, and updates to the chemical inventory and operating procedures.
• Weeks 7–12: formalised periodic inspections (lifts, compressors and electrical systems), evacuation drills and follow-up internal audit.

Records to retain: test reports, before-and-after photos, training certificates, checklists and maintenance records.

Office and services (banking, IT and insurance): psychosocial risks, ergonomics and remote working

Key risks

• Ergonomics of display-screen workstations and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Psychosocial risks: mental workload, deadlines and isolation during remote work.
• Fire safety and evacuation, first aid, night work and extended working hours.

What the inspector checks first

• Hazard assessment covering musculoskeletal and psychosocial risks, with an associated prevention plan.
• Remote-working policy (working hours, equipment and health and safety instructions).
• Staff training and information (induction, safety briefing and evacuation drills).
• Accessibility and adaptations, lighting, ventilation and noise.

90-day plan

• Weeks 1–2: ergonomics and psychosocial risk assessment (short questionnaire and targeted visits), and simple physical corrections (adjustments, supports and chairs).
• Weeks 3–6: update the remote-working policy, provide display-screen workstation training, introduce an active-break programme and appoint wellbeing coordinators.
• Weeks 7–12: evacuation drill, first-aid refresher training and implementation of indicators (absenteeism, psychosocial-risk alerts and minor incidents).

Records to retain: assessment reports, workstation plans, information records and drill reports.

Healthcare and social care: patient handling, needlestick injuries, biosafety and on-call duties

Key risks

• Handling people, falls and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Biological exposure (blood and needles) and disinfectants.
• On-call duties, night work and acute stress.

What the inspector checks first

• Hygiene and biosafety protocols: standardised procedures, waste segregation and suitable containers.
• Manual-handling training, technical handling aids and periodic interviews.
• Exposure traceability, post-accident procedures and access to emergency equipment.
• Working-time organisation, breaks, alert systems and workload management.

90-day plan

• Weeks 1–2: review of protocols and critical equipment (clinical-waste containers and exposure kits), and inventory of handling aids.
• Weeks 3–6: targeted training (handling and biological exposure), simulation exercises and display of response procedures.
• Weeks 7–12: update job descriptions, conduct an internal hygiene and safety audit, and hold a management review of incidents and prevention plans.

Records to retain: exposure registers, training certificates, equipment inspection records and audit reports.

Retail and logistics: handling, vehicles, loading bays, evacuation plans and drills

Key risks

• Manual and mechanised handling (pallet trucks and forklift trucks).
• Falls from height or low height, racking, loading bays and mixed pedestrian–vehicle traffic.
• Fire safety and evacuation, and product storage (compatibility).

What the inspector checks first

• Hazard assessment covering internal traffic, loading bays, racking and lifting.
• Forklift authorisations and training, and periodic inspections of trucks and accessories.
• Up-to-date evacuation plan, accessible fire extinguishers and completed drills.
• Safe storage: loads, stability, chemical compatibility and ventilation.

90-day plan

• Weeks 1–2: marking and separating traffic flows, visual inspection of racking, traffic plan and display of instructions.
• Weeks 3–6: forklift refresher training, complete truck inspection and securing of loading bays (stops, chocks, high-visibility vests and procedures).
• Weeks 7–12: evacuation drill, update of the hazard assessment and internal traffic and storage audit.

Records to retain: driving authorisations, periodic inspections, racking inspection reports and drill reports.

Documents and records to keep ready for any inspection (checklist)

A successful inspection relies on factual evidence: you must be able to show within minutes that your organisation protects health and controls its risks. This checklist brings together the MSST compliance records expected in most situations (Suva or cantonal labour inspectorates). The objective is to locate every document in under 30 seconds and prove that it has been updated recently.

OHS policy, responsibility chart and minutes of the safety committee

• Health and safety policy signed by management, distributed and understood (objectives, commitments and scope).
• Clear MSST organisation chart: roles, responsibilities and deputies (management, MSST coordinator, external specialists, supervisors and workplace coordinators).
• Assignment letter for the MSST coordinator and safety coordinators (scope, resources and reporting).
• Safety committee / HSE meetings: schedule, agenda, signed minutes, participants, decisions and tracked actions.
• Annual OHS plan: objectives, indicators, campaigns, audits, training, milestones and budget.

Good practice: display the policy and organisation chart, and keep minutes in a single repository (digital “MSST_Governance” folder) with standardised naming and the date of the latest update.

Risk assessment: method, hazard register and measures plan

• Documented assessment method: severity and probability criteria, acceptability levels and prioritisation rules.
• Up-to-date hazard register: dangerous situations, causes, initial and residual risk levels, and responsible persons for treatment.
• Structured measures plan: technical, organisational and human measures, deadlines, indicators and progress status.
• Specific analyses where relevant: machinery, temporary work at height, lockout/tagout, electricity, ATEX, chemicals, handling, psychosocial and musculoskeletal risks, and confined spaces.
• Change traceability: integration of new lines, processes, products, organisations, sites and subcontracting arrangements.
• Workplace evidence: photos, test reports, periodic inspection certificates and inspection checklists.

Good practice: include a summary page showing the “Top 10 major risks / critical gaps / priority 90-day actions” to guide the inspector and demonstrate control.

Training and authorisations: records, certificates and refresher training

• Competence matrix by position and activity (who must know how to do what, to what level and at what frequency).
• Training records: fire safety and evacuation, first aid and BLS-AED-SRC, machine safety, PPE, handling, chemicals, working at height, lockout/tagout and driving authorisations.
• Named certificates signed by the trainer (date, duration and programme), with evidence of refresher training at the defined intervals.
• Induction briefing for new employees and subcontractors: handbook, attendance record and quiz where applicable.
• Effectiveness checks: quizzes, workplace observations and rapid audits (results and remedial plans).

Good practice: a central spreadsheet titled “Skills & authorisations” with filters (position, site and deadline) and refresher alerts.

Instructions, operating procedures, chemical safety data sheets, and accident and incident register

• Up-to-date and accessible instructions and operating procedures: normal and non-routine operations (hot-work and work-at-height permits, confined-space entry, lockout/tagout and lifting).
• Chemicals: inventory, safety data sheets, labelling, storage compatibility, ventilation, associated PPE and accidental-spill procedures.
• Fire prevention: updated evacuation plan, plan of first-response equipment, periodic inspections and lists of trained response team members.
• Accident and near-miss register: reports, causal analyses, corrective measures and effectiveness follow-up.
• Periodic visits and inspections: inspection reports for machinery, lifting equipment, electrical installations, scaffolding, fire extinguishers and emergency-stop devices.

Good practice: link each operating procedure to a photo record of the equipment in place and to the training certificate required to carry it out.

MSST traceability: management reviews, indicators, internal audits and action follow-up

• Key indicators tracked monthly: accidents, near misses, action closure rate, training and authorisation coverage, completed audits and open/closed critical gaps.
• Dashboard by site and consolidated at group level, with alert thresholds and comments.
• Planned internal audits: reports, non-conformities, action plans and effectiveness checks.
• Periodic management review: decisions, trade-offs, resources, priorities and internal communication.
• Evidence of closure: post-correction photos, test reports, certificates and remeasurement results.

Good practice: an action Kanban board (who, what, when and status) visible to supervisors, together with an MSST decision log to record key decisions.

Operational objective: with this organised, up-to-date and accessible documentation base, you reduce inspection time, strengthen inspector confidence and secure your operations.

Achieving MSST compliance step by step (operational method)

Implementing a robust MSST system is not a “paper project”. It is a pragmatic roadmap aligned with your actual risks, resources and business objectives. Here is the method I use in 2025 to achieve measurable results within 90 days while laying the foundations for long-term performance.

Step 1: initial audit and prioritisation of major risks

Objective: know precisely where you stand and what to address first.

• Scoping: scope (sites, teams and processes), business challenges, recent incidents and customer requirements.
• Document review: policy, responsibilities, hazard assessment, action plans, training records, periodic inspections and critical instructions.
• Workplace visits: sensitive workstations, machinery, traffic routes, chemicals, non-routine work (lockout/tagout, height, hot work and confined spaces), PPE and evacuation.
• Interviews: management, managers, maintenance, HSE/HR, employee representatives and critical subcontractors.
• Prioritised summary:
  • Top 10 major risks (severity × frequency)
  • Critical gaps (safety or compliance blockers)
  • Quick opportunities (high-impact quick wins)

Deliverables: audit report, risk map by area, criticality matrix, quick-win list and preliminary prioritised action plan.

Step 2: appointing the MSST team and planning resources

Objective: clarify “who does what” with the right level of expertise.

• Roles:
  • Management: approves the policy, resources and priorities.
  • MSST coordinator (internal): leads the process, follows up actions and reports.
  • Safety specialist: methodology, analyses, audits and securing critical operations.
  • Occupational physician/health protection specialist: exposures, monitoring, psychosocial and musculoskeletal risks.
  • Workplace coordinators (team leaders and maintenance): day-to-day implementation.
• RACI (responsible, support, consulted and informed) for each project: machinery, lockout/tagout, chemicals, working at height, fire safety/evacuation, psychosocial and musculoskeletal risks, and training.
• Planning: 30-, 60- and 90-day milestones, budget, dedicated time and monthly reporting.

Deliverables: MSST organisation chart, assignment descriptions, RACI by project, schedule and budget.

Step 3: 90-day action plan (quick wins + medium-term projects)

Objective: quickly secure what matters without postponing fundamental issues.

Weeks 1–2: rapid risk reduction

• Simple physical corrections (guards, signage, housekeeping and routes).
• Update notices: emergencies, evacuation, PPE and critical instructions.
• Launch overdue periodic inspections (fire extinguishers, lifting equipment and electrical systems).

Weeks 3–6: critical operations under control

• Lockout/tagout deployed: procedures, individual padlocks, zero-energy test and training.
• Machine safety: risk analyses, compliance upgrade plans and emergency-stop tests.
• Chemicals: inventory, safety data sheets, storage, ventilation and operating procedures.
• Working at height/hot work/confined spaces: work permits, checklists and rescue plan.

Weeks 7–12: a system that holds up

• Revised and traceable hazard assessment (method, prioritisation and records).
• Targeted training programme (first aid, fire safety/evacuation, lockout/tagout, working at height, chemicals and display-screen workstations).
• OHS dashboard and management routine (30-minute monthly meeting, indicators and decisions).
• Follow-up internal audit and closure of critical actions.

Deliverables: 90-day plan, action register (status, deadlines and responsible persons), update and test reports, and signed checklists.

Step 4: train, document, measure and continuously improve

Train

• Competence matrix by position, refresher intervals and authorisation traceability.
• “Life-saving skills” modules: BLS-AED-SRC, fire safety/evacuation, lockout/tagout, working at height, chemicals and ergonomics.

Document

• Clear operating procedures for normal and non-routine operations.
• Single MSST file for each site: hazard assessment, action plans, registers, audit reports and photo/video evidence.

Measure

• Simple and useful KPIs: accidents and near misses, action closure rate, training coverage, completed audits and open/closed critical gaps.
• Quarterly management reviews: decisions, priorities, resources and communication.

Improve

• Lessons-learned loop after an incident or inspection.
• Effectiveness tests: workplace observation, quizzes and five-minute rapid audits.
• Update after every change (machinery, process, product or organisation).

Deliverables: competence matrix, annual training plan, up-to-date MSST file, monthly dashboard and review report.

Take action: MSST support and targeted training

• Express assessment (2–3 hours) to establish your priorities objectively and calibrate the 90-day plan.
• MSST support: securing critical operations, machinery and lockout/tagout compliance, document structuring and management coaching.
• Targeted training: BLS-AED-SRC first aid, fire safety/evacuation, machine safety, working at height, chemicals, ergonomics and psychosocial/musculoskeletal risks.
• Sustainability: quarterly internal audit, management routines and continuous improvement.

Frequently asked questions about occupational safety stakeholders in Switzerland (FAQ)

Suva or cantonal inspectorate: who inspects my service company?

In most cases, a service company falls under the cantonal labour inspectorate. However, if you carry out particular-hazard operations in-house (electrical maintenance, work at height, work on machinery, explosive atmospheres, etc.), expect requirements aligned with Suva standards. In multi-site or multi-activity organisations, responsibility may vary according to the dominant activity at each site.

Does CFST Directive 6508 apply to micro-enterprises?

Yes, under the principle of proportionality. Even a very small organisation must be able to demonstrate that it has identified its hazards, defined measures and ensured the necessary skills. Specialists must be called in as soon as the hazards or complexity exceed internal expertise.

Can I outsource the MSST function entirely?

No. You may appoint external specialists and an occupational physician, but the employer’s responsibility remains fully in place. Appoint an internal coordinator, retain control over prioritisation and follow up actions over time.

What are the risks for an SME in the event of non-compliance during an inspection?

You will receive written requirements with deadlines, followed by a monitoring inspection. In the event of serious and immediate danger, an operation or machine may be stopped until the issue is corrected. Indirect costs (downtime, process redesign and emergency training) are common when prevention is not structured.

How long should MSST records and inspection reports be kept?

Adopt a clear archiving policy: retain your documents for as long as necessary to demonstrate risk control and decision traceability, at a minimum across several inspection cycles and for the service life of the installations concerned. Align this policy with your insurance, quality and internal compliance requirements.

How can I quickly determine whether my company falls under Suva or the cantonal inspectorate?

List your actual activities (production, construction sites, maintenance and specialised subcontracting) and your critical operations. If you operate machinery, work at height, handle dangerous energy sources or work with hazardous substances, you probably fall within a scope involving technical requirements similar to Suva’s. Conversely, a service-based core business without high-risk processes will generally fall under the cantonal inspectorate.

How can I prepare for an inspection in less than two weeks?

1. Bring together your MSST file: hazard assessment, action plan, training and authorisation records, periodic inspections and critical instructions.
2. Carry out a targeted workplace tour: machinery, lockout/tagout, working at height, chemicals, evacuation, PPE and notices.
3. Correct visible quick wins: guards, signage, traffic routes, fire extinguishers and evacuation plans.
4. Schedule the essential refresher training (fire safety/evacuation, first aid and lockout/tagout) and document it.
5. Hold a preparation meeting with management and the MSST coordinator to validate priorities and key messages.