OHS coordination on construction sites
Our company provides comprehensive construction site safety coordination for developers, investors and main contractors across Slovakia — from drawing up the OHS plan through the coordinator of documentation in the project preparation phase to the safety coordinator during construction. Everything is handled in accordance with Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., so you meet your legal obligation and avoid penalties during labour inspectorate checks.
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When is a construction-site safety coordinator mandatory?
The duty to appoint a BOZP coordinator does not arise only on large construction projects — it follows directly from § 3 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. on the minimum safety and health requirements for construction sites. The threshold is unambiguous: a coordinator is always mandatory whenever work on the site is carried out by more than one contractor or more than one self-employed person (SZČO). The size of the project and the duration of the work are irrelevant — the only deciding factor is the simultaneous presence of several parties on a single construction site.
The law distinguishes two separate duties that many developers wrongly treat as one: the duty to appoint a coordinator (§ 3 ods. 1) and the duty to send a notification to the labour inspectorate (§ 3 ods. 3). A coordinator must always be appointed whenever more than one party is active. Notification of the labour inspectorate is mandatory only if the work exceeds at least one of these thresholds:
| Duty | Condition | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| BOZP coordinator (ALWAYS) | More than 1 contractor or SZČO on the construction site | § 3 ods. 1 NV 396/2006 |
| Notification of the labour inspectorate — threshold A | More than 30 working days with more than 20 persons working simultaneously | § 3 ods. 3 NV 396/2006 |
| Notification of the labour inspectorate — threshold B | Expected volume of work exceeds 500 person-days | § 3 ods. 3 NV 396/2006 |
The thresholds of 30 working days / 20 persons and 500 person-days under § 3 ods. 3 apply exclusively to the duty to send a notification to the labour inspectorate — NOT to the duty to appoint a coordinator. A coordinator must be appointed from the first day on which more than one party is working on the site, regardless of the size or duration of the project.
The term "construction site" is defined more broadly in the Government Regulation than it might seem. Under § 2 ods. 1 NV 396/2006 it covers any location where the construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, dismantling or demolition of an existing structure takes place. The duty to have a BOZP coordinator therefore also applies to ordinary reconstruction work in which, for example, a construction firm and an electrician acting as an SZČO are at work simultaneously. If you are looking for a detailed explanation of the whole legal framework, including practical examples, read our complete guide to construction-site safety coordination.
Documentation coordinator and safety coordinator
Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. distinguishes two separate phases of a construction project, to which it assigns two coordinator roles with different tasks and a different legal basis. The developer may be required to provide one or both roles at the same time — it depends on the phase the project is in.
| Role | Project phase | Legal basis | Main duties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documentation coordinator | Design preparation — before the construction site is set up | § 5 NV 396/2006 | Incorporating safety requirements into the design documentation; drawing up the site safety plan in accordance with Annex No. 2; preparing the notification to the labour inspectorate for projects above the statutory threshold |
| Safety coordinator | Construction execution — from setting up the site until its dismantling | § 6 NV 396/2006 | Coordinating the safety measures of all contractors; updating the site safety plan; inspection days on the construction site; informing the labour inspectorate of significant changes |
The law does not prevent both roles from being performed by the same natural person. In practice this is common and advantageous: a coordinator who prepared the design documentation and the site safety plan knows the entire context of the project and does not have to catch up during execution. Alpha Safety provides both roles — documentation coordinator and safety coordinator — under a single contract.
Appointing the coordinator is always the responsibility of the developer — that is, the investor or the client commissioning the project. It is their statutory duty and they bear responsibility for it regardless of whom they entrust the coordination to. The contractor or the main construction contractor appoints the coordinator only exceptionally and only on the basis of express written authorisation from the developer.
Who can be a construction-site safety coordinator?
The qualification requirements for a safety coordinator in the construction-execution phase are set out in § 6 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. A safety coordinator may be a natural person who is:
- a site manager holding a valid authorisation under a special regulation, or
- a construction supervisor holding a valid authorisation under a special regulation, or
- a safety technician holding a certificate issued by the National Labour Inspectorate (NIP).
§ 6 ods. 1 NV 396/2006 contains a hard statutory prohibition: a site manager MUST NOT be the safety coordinator on the same construction site that they are managing. This is not a recommendation or an interpretative opinion — it is a direct statutory prohibition. The developer must look for a safety coordinator outside the team of the main site manager.
Since 1 January 2023, amendment No. 114/2022 Coll. has been in force, which merged two previous terms in Act No. 124/2006 Coll. — authorised safety technician and safety technician — into the single term safety technician. Old certificates remain fully valid; the change is terminological, not substantive. A safety coordinator may therefore be a safety technician holding an NIP certificate issued either before or after 2023.
Why choose an external coordinator? An external coordinator is independent of the site manager, the contractors and the subcontractors. They have no reason to overlook shortcomings — their sole mandate is safety. In addition, the developer relieves their own team of the administrative burden associated with the site safety plan, inspection days and communication with the labour inspectorate.
Site safety plan — what it must contain and when it is mandatory
The site safety plan is a statutory document that the documentation coordinator draws up before the construction site is set up. The duty is established directly by § 5 ods. 2 písm. b) NV 396/2006: the documentation coordinator ensures that the site safety plan takes into account special measures for work involving particular danger in accordance with Annex No. 2 to this Government Regulation.
The site safety plan is not a one-off document. The safety coordinator updates it on an ongoing basis whenever changes occur in the progress of construction work or whenever new risks emerge — this duty follows from § 6 ods. 2 písm. c) NV 396/2006. The developer is obliged to hand the plan to every contractor before they start work on the construction site.
| What the site safety plan must contain | Legal basis |
|---|---|
| Special measures for work involving particular danger | Annex No. 2 NV 396/2006 |
| Description of how safety measures are coordinated during simultaneous work | § 6 ods. 2 písm. a) NV 396/2006 |
| Identification of risks with measures to eliminate or limit them | § 5 ods. 2 písm. a) NV 396/2006 |
| Schedule of work and the sequencing of individual contractors | § 5 ods. 2 NV 396/2006 |
| Procedure for updating the plan during execution | § 6 ods. 2 písm. c) NV 396/2006 |
Work involving particular danger (Annex No. 2 NV 396/2006)
Annex No. 2 to Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. defines 10 categories of work involving particular danger, for which the site safety plan must contain special measures. Annex No. 2 must not be confused with Annex No. 1 — the latter serves solely as the notification form for the labour inspectorate.
| Category | Description of work involving particular danger |
|---|---|
| 1 | Work with a risk of being buried by moving soil, falling into muddy terrain or falling from height — in particular excavation work with a risk of burial |
| 2 | Work carried out in excavations deeper than 1.3 metres (Decree No. 147/2013 Coll.) |
| 3 | Work in which workers may fall from a height greater than 1.5 metres (NV No. 392/2006 Coll.) |
| 4 | Work with explosives, including shot-firing and blasting work |
| 5 | Work with chemical or biological agents posing a particular danger |
| 6 | Work with ionising radiation requiring the designation of controlled or supervised areas |
| 7 | Work carried out in the immediate vicinity of high-voltage electrical lines |
| 8 | Work carried out inside shafts, mountains, underground tunnels, tanks or chimneys |
| 9 | Work using diving equipment (underwater work) |
| 10 | Work in a compressed-air environment and work involving the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated structural elements |
The two most common threshold values: a fall from a height greater than 1.5 metres — NV No. 392/2006 Coll. Work in an excavation deeper than 1.3 metres — Decree No. 147/2013 Coll. Both limits are binding independently of each other and must be taken into account in the site safety plan.
The developer's responsibility does not disappear by appointing a coordinator
A widespread misconception: that by appointing a BOZP coordinator the developer is relieved of statutory responsibility for safety on the construction site. § 3 ods. 5 NV 396/2006 states unequivocally: appointing a coordinator does not relieve the developer of responsibility for fulfilling the duties under this Government Regulation.
In practice this means: if the BOZP coordinator fails — does not carry out inspection days, does not update the site safety plan, ignores concerns raised by contractors — the developer also bears responsibility for the consequences. The labour inspectorate may conduct penalty proceedings against the coordinator and the developer in parallel.
During an inspection of a construction site, the labour inspectorate has strong powers under Act No. 125/2006 Coll. on labour inspection: it may order the removal of identified shortcomings, prohibit the use of work equipment endangering health and, where there is an immediate threat to the life or health of employees, halt work on the construction site. Penalty proceedings may be conducted against the coordinator and the developer in parallel.
Fines and sanctions for breaching the duties
Failure to comply with the duties relating to BOZP coordination on a construction site is punishable under Act No. 125/2006 Coll. on labour inspection. The law distinguishes between a standard breach and a serious breach of BOZP — different rates apply to each category.
| Type of breach | Amount of fine | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of BOZP duties (standard) | up to €100,000 | § 19 ods. 1 zák. 125/2006 |
| Serious harm to health (minimum fine) | at least €20,000 | § 19 ods. 1 zák. 125/2006 |
| Fatal occupational accident (minimum fine) | at least €33,000 | § 19 ods. 1 zák. 125/2006 |
| Serious breach of BOZP duties | from €1,000 to €200,000 | § 19 ods. 2 písm. b) bod 1 zák. 125/2006 |
The law uses two different rates: up to €100,000 for an ordinary breach under § 19 ods. 1 and from €1,000 to €200,000 for a serious breach under § 19 ods. 2 písm. b) bod 1. For a serious breach, the fine can reach twice the ordinary ceiling.
The absence of a BOZP coordinator on a site where several parties are working simultaneously is a direct breach of § 3 ods. 1 NV 396/2006 — and the labour inspectorate may impose a sanction regardless of whether an occupational accident has actually occurred.
Why Alpha Safety for BOZP coordination?
Alpha Safety s.r.o. provides construction-site BOZP coordination as a comprehensive service — from drawing up the site safety plan and the notification to the labour inspectorate, through inspection days during execution, to the final documentation handed over to the developer. Our team comprises a safety technician holding a certificate from the National Labour Inspectorate with more than 10 years of experience in workplace safety on construction projects.
- Based in Martin — we are on site within 2 hours for the entire Turiec region; for projects across Slovakia we travel according to the schedule.
- Complete coverage — site safety plan in accordance with Annex No. 2 NV 396/2006, notification of the labour inspectorate, coordination during execution, final documentation.
- Independence — we do not work for any of the contractors; our sole mandate is safety on your construction project and the protection of the developer.
- Written records after every inspection day — you always have documented evidence that the coordination duties were properly fulfilled.
- Flexibility — we coordinate short reconstructions as well as multi-season construction projects.
Take advantage of a free consultation — we will assess the coordinator's duties for your specific project and send a tailored quote within 48 hours. Contact us via the form on the contact page or by phone. Combining construction-site BOZP coordination with an external safety service will save you both time and cost. If you are looking for a detailed explanation of the legal framework, read our complete guide to construction-site safety coordination.
What does OHS coordination include?
OHS plan
Preparation of an occupational health and safety plan for the construction site.
Contractor coordination
Coordination of activities between contractors on the construction site from an OHS perspective.
Construction site inspections
Regular inspections of compliance with safety regulations on construction sites.
Documentation management
Maintenance of coordinator's log and other mandatory documentation.
Training
Training of construction workers in workplace safety.
Construction phase schedule
Setting the schedule for the individual construction phases.
Workplace accessibility and movement of machinery
Designing and reviewing solutions relating to workplace accessibility, traffic routes, and the movement of machinery.
Work timetable
Adjusting the work timetable according to the current state of the construction site.
Handling of materials
Ensuring suitable conditions for handling materials, including hazardous ones.
Cleanliness and waste management
Overseeing cleanliness, order, and waste management on the construction site.
Inspection of equipment and work appliances
Technical inspection and maintenance of equipment and work appliances.
Storage of materials
Designating and arranging locations for storing materials — especially hazardous ones.
Measures for concurrent work
Designing technical and organisational measures for concurrent or sequential work activities.
Why work with us?
- Safety coordinator certificate
- Experience with various types of construction
- Regular presence on construction sites
- Proactive approach to prevention
- Cooperation with all construction participants
Stručná odpoveď
You always need a BOZP coordinator whenever more than one contractor or more than one self-employed person operates on your construction site. This obligation is imposed on the developer by Section 3 of Government Regulation 396/2006. The coordinator is appointed by the developer, not the contractor. On larger projects there is also an obligation to send advance notice to the labour inspectorate.
Časté otázky – OHS Coordination
Under § 3 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., the developer must designate both a documentation coordinator and a safety coordinator for every construction site on which more than one employer or more than one self-employed natural person who is not an employer will carry out work. The obligation arises automatically with two or more contractors, regardless of the overall scope of the project.
Under § 3 ods. 3 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., advance notice is mandatory if the planned duration of the work exceeds 30 working days and at the same time more than 20 natural persons will work on the site, or if the total scope of the planned work exceeds 500 person-days. The notice is sent to the competent labour inspectorate before work begins.
The documentation coordinator operates in the design phase under § 5 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. and prepares the site safety plan before the construction site is set up. The safety coordinator operates during the execution of the work under § 6 and oversees compliance with the plan, coordinates contractors and flags dangerous situations directly on site. These are two distinct roles, which may also be performed by one person.
Not on the same construction site. Under § 6 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., the safety coordinator may not at the same time be the site manager of the same construction site. The legislator's intention is to keep the coordinator's supervisory function independent of the operational management of the project. If your site manager cannot hold this role, Alpha Safety will provide an external coordinator.
Under § 6 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., a safety coordinator may be a site manager, a natural person authorised to carry out construction supervision, or a safety technician with a valid certificate. From 1 January 2023, with the amendment by Act No. 114/2022 Coll., the terms authorised safety technician and safety technician were merged into one – safety technician.
Both the documentation coordinator and the safety coordinator are appointed solely by the developer under § 3 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. The developer is the investor or the project's client, not the contractor. The contractor cannot appoint the coordinator, although it may propose a specific person. This obligation cannot be transferred by contract to a supplier or subcontractor.
The occupational health and safety plan is a document that sets out how safety on the construction site is to be coordinated and the special measures for work involving particular danger from Annex No. 2. Under § 5 ods. 2 písm. b) of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., it is prepared by the documentation coordinator before the construction site is set up, taking account of the contractors' schedule and technological procedures.
No. Under § 3 ods. 5 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., the developer's appointment of a coordinator does not relieve it of its statutory obligations or responsibility. The developer remains responsible for ensuring that the coordinator was duly appointed, has the necessary qualifications and has the conditions to perform the function. The coordinator is a professional partner, not a substitute for the developer's responsibility.
Yes. Under § 2 ods. 1 of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., a construction site is any place where construction or engineering work is carried out, including the reconstruction, renovation and repair of buildings. The obligation to appoint a coordinator therefore also applies to reconstruction work if more than one contractor or self-employed person (SZČO) operates on the site at the same time.
For breaching BOZP regulations, including failure to fulfil the obligation to appoint a coordinator, the labour inspectorate may impose a fine of up to EUR 100,000 under § 19 ods. 1 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll. For a serious breach the fine is from EUR 1,000 to EUR 200,000 under § 19 ods. 2 písm. b) bod 1. If the breach caused serious harm to health, the minimum fine is EUR 20,000; in the event of a fatal accident at least EUR 33,000.
Under § 6 ods. 2 písm. c) of Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll., the safety coordinator updates the site safety plan whenever the conditions or the work schedule change, when a new subcontractor starts, after an occupational accident or dangerous event, and whenever changes on the site affect the safety measures. The site safety plan is not a one-off document but a living working tool.
The list of work involving particular danger is set out in Annex No. 2 to Government Regulation No. 396/2006 Coll. – there are 10 categories, for example work with a risk of burial in soil, work at a height above 1.5 m, work with explosives, work near high-voltage electrical lines or work in confined spaces. This work requires special measures, which the coordinator incorporates into the site safety plan.
For work at height, the requirements of Government Regulation No. 392/2006 Coll. apply, and protective measures are mandatory from 1.5 m above the floor without a fixed railing. For excavation work, the conditions are governed by Decree No. 147/2013 Coll. – from an excavation depth of 1.3 m, shoring or safe sloping is mandatory. Alpha Safety incorporates these requirements directly into the construction site's safety plan.
The price of coordination depends on the scope of the project, the length of the build and the frequency of inspections on site. As a guide, the hourly rate of a safety coordinator ranges from EUR 16 to EUR 30, and the preparation of a site safety plan from EUR 200. For an exact quote, contact us with your project's parameters – location, the type and nature of the work and the planned schedule.
Certificates of an authorised safety technician issued before 1 January 2023 were valid until 1 January 2025 on the basis of the transitional provisions of amendment No. 114/2022 Coll. From this amendment the term authorised safety technician ceased to exist and only one title remained – safety technician. If your coordinator held an older certificate, they should have converted it to a new safety technician certificate in 2024.
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