The Safety Technician is the professional required by law for Workplace Health and Safety and the supervision of a company’s working conditions.
They are appointed by the employer to provide suggestions and advice on issues related to the employees’ Health and Safety, and prevent occupational accidents on the premises.
Every business employing at least one employee is obliged to hire a Safety Technician.
Responsibilities of the Safety Technician
In General
The Safety Technician records their suggestions in writing in the specified company book, to be approved by the Labour Inspectorate. Exceptions are made in cases of technical projects in which the physical book is not required and an electronic register is permitted. In the cases of a physical register, the employer shall be informed of the instructions entered by signature.
The Safety Technician ought to visit the facilities under their supervision, on specific days and hours, according to the inspection schedule registered with the Labour Inspectorate. Their duties involve:
- Regular inspection of work stations concerning occupational health and safety. If any omission in health and safety measures is observed the Safety Technician must report it to the employer, propose ways to remedy it and supervise their implementation.
- Prevention and protection regarding production activities and working methods as well as the layout and arrangement of the work stations and environment.
- Support on Health and Safety issues to the Administration and the Legal Department.
- Supervising the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as well as participating in their selection and effectiveness checks.
- Training, informing and guiding employees to prevent the risks involved in their work.
- Investigating the causes of accidents at work, analyzing and evaluating their investigation results and proposing measures to prevent similar accidents.
- Advising on design, programming, construction and maintenance issues on the facilities.
- Ensuring the safety of the facilities.
- Evaluating the fire protection, emergency and evacuation plans.
Additional consulting services that the Safety Technician may provide are the following:
- Occupational Risk Assessment (Pr. Dec. 17/96, Pr. Dec. 159/99).
- Drawing a Health and Safety Manual for informing employees.
- Measurements of natural and chemical agents in the work environment, using EXYPP GALANOS ESPP’s equipment.
- Measurements of gaseous pollutants.