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Berlin (dpa / bb) - Since Wednesday there has been a new home office obligation to contain the corona pandemic - and Berlin's authorities want to keep a watchful eye on companies during implementation.

The State Office for Occupational Safety, Health Protection and Technical Safety (Lagetsi) will start increased operational controls at short notice and examine around 80 companies per week, Labor Senator Elke Breitenbach (left) announced on Wednesday.

Initially, it was primarily about companies with open-plan offices, call centers, insurance companies and the administrative areas of company headquarters.

In the event of violations, companies would have to expect that the office would order the necessary measures in individual cases, according to the labor administration.

"If a company does not follow this order, it can result in a fine of up to 30,000 euros."

According to the “Corona Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance” by Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD), employers must offer their employees the opportunity to carry out office work or similar activities in their homes - if there are no compelling operational reasons to the contrary.

If that is not possible, companies should, for example, set up small and permanent work groups and equip employees with medical face masks or FFP-2 masks.

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In the explanations to the ordinance, the ministry speaks of a “duty” to offer home office “as far as this is possible according to operational conditions”.

This is to avoid contact at work and on the way to work.

"We will ensure compliance with the Corona occupational health and safety ordinance in Berlin through information, education and control," said Senator Breitenbach.

"Anyone who can work from home must also be given the opportunity to do that."

According to information from Lagetsi spokesman Harald Henzel, the state office has up to 65 occupational safety specialists available for the controls, who already have numerous tasks.

The additional task will be "integrated into this supervisory process," he told the German press agency.

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The officials in question always rely first on dialogue with companies, on information and advice.

"Our goal is not to catch people violating them, but to bring about a legally compliant situation."

The review of the companies is partly unannounced, but partly also after notification.

Especially when it comes to home office, it is important that those responsible in the company are on site and that certain documents are available.

A home office hotline has been running since Wednesday.

Companies and employees should be able to obtain information, ask questions or provide advice at the occupational health and safety authority on 030 9025 45 250 (Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.).

This is also possible by email to the address: home-office-fragen@lagetsi.berlin.de.

Breitenbach also announced on Tuesday that a task force would be set up at the State Office for Occupational Safety and Health to oversee the implementation of the new federal regulation.

If this does not go satisfactorily from the Senate's point of view, Berlin also reserves its own rules to encourage companies to work more from home.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210127-99-192240 / 2

Communication from the Senate Department for Labor

Corona health and safety ordinance

Q&A Federal Ministry of Labor on the Corona Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance

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