Occupational medicine Dr. Alexander Großbichler · Vienna & surroundings

Five topics, briefly explained

General information under Austrian law, as of October 2026 and without guarantee. What applies to your company in detail, we are happy to clarify in a conversation.

Maternity protection: How does the assessment work?

Companies must check in advance all workplaces where women are employed for hazards to pregnant and breastfeeding women. This applies even when nobody is pregnant at the moment. That way it is already clear what to do when the situation arises.

  1. Identify hazards

    Workplaces and activities are reviewed: for example heavy lifting, noise, heat and cold, radiation, vibration, and hazardous or biological substances.

  2. Assess

    For each hazard, the possible effect on pregnancy and breastfeeding is assessed.

  3. Define measures

    For example less hazardous equipment or methods, a changed task or a different workplace. If that is not possible, release from work is the last resort.

  4. Document and inform

    The results and measures go into the safety and health protection documents. Employees, or the works council and safety representatives, are told the results and measures.

  5. When a pregnancy becomes known

    The defined measures are put into practice, and the company reports the pregnancy in writing to the labour inspectorate.

The assessment is the responsibility of the company. Occupational medicine and the safety specialist can support it, and I am happy to contribute. It should be reviewed when something changes, for example with new equipment, substances or methods.

Source: Maternity protection assessment on oesterreich.gv.at (German) (opens in a new tab)

Mental stress: How does the assessment work?

Since 2013, mental stress has explicitly been part of the workplace risk assessment. What is examined are the working conditions: tasks, processes, work environment and cooperation. Individual people are not assessed.

  1. Prepare

    A small team, for example management, works council, safety representatives and prevention specialists, decides which groups of activities are covered and which method is used.

  2. Inform

    Managers and employees learn beforehand what it is about and what will happen with the results.

  3. Collect data

    The working conditions are recorded, for example by a survey, conversations or observation.

  4. Assess

    The results show where action is needed.

  5. Put measures into practice

    Together, the causes are clarified and measures are set by urgency. Later, it is checked whether they work.

Results and measures belong in the safety and health protection documents, and the assessment must be reviewed regularly. Depending on the method, work psychologists are involved as well, and I contribute to the assessment. The AUVA offers advice on this.

Source: AUVA brochure on assessing mental stress (PDF, German) (opens in a new tab)

Screen work: What must the company observe?

Work counts as screen work if someone works at a screen for more than two hours without interruption, or more than three hours with interruptions, on average per day. Special rules then apply.

  1. Workplace

    Screen, keyboard, desk, chair and lighting must be easy on eyes and body. All screen workstations must be assessed.

  2. Breaks

    After 50 minutes of uninterrupted screen work, a paid break or a change to a less straining activity of at least 10 minutes is due.

  3. Eye examination

    The company offers it: before starting the work, then every three years, and when vision problems may be caused by screen work. The company bears the cost unless health insurance covers it.

  4. Screen glasses

    If they are needed after the examination and ordinary glasses are not enough, the company pays for the necessary version. Extra costs for better quality or looks are borne by the employee.

I advise on the design of screen workstations at the company and at home, and I make suggestions that can be put into practice in everyday work.

Source: Screen work on wko.at (German) (opens in a new tab)

Part-time reintegration: How does it work?

After a longer sick leave, employee and company can agree to return with fewer hours and to increase working time step by step. There is no legal entitlement, both sides must agree.

  1. Check the requirements

    At least six weeks of uninterrupted sick leave in the same employment. The employment must have lasted at least three months at the start. The start is at most one month after the sick leave ends.

  2. Draw up a plan

    The reintegration plan sets out start, duration, extent and timing of working hours in writing. Before that, fit2work gives advice. This is not needed if company, employee and occupational physician agree to the plan in writing.

  3. Observe the framework

    Working time is normally reduced by 25 to 50 percent and must not fall below 12 hours a week. The duration is one to six months, extendable once by up to three months.

  4. Approval and pay

    Health insurance must approve. Employees receive pay for the hours worked plus a reintegration benefit (Wiedereingliederungsgeld) from the health insurance fund, which makes up part of the loss of income.

My role is the occupational medical assessment and support, for example in return-to-work talks and with the plan. The agreement itself is made by the company and the employee. For details of employment law, the Chamber of Commerce or the Chamber of Labour are the right contacts.

Source: Part-time reintegration on wko.at (German) (opens in a new tab)

Aptitude and follow-up examinations: When are they needed?

For certain activities the law requires examinations: an aptitude examination before starting and follow-up examinations at regular intervals. Examples are work with harmful noise or certain substances, frequent use of respiratory protection and work under severe heat.

  1. Risk assessment as the starting point

    Whether examinations are needed follows from the assessment of the workplaces: which activities and strains are there?

  2. Choose an examination provider

    Only physicians authorised for this may carry out the examinations. The company tells them the working conditions, such as activity, substances, measurements and protective measures.

  3. Inform employees, arrange appointments

    Those concerned learn what the examination is for. Then the appointments are arranged, including those for later follow-up examinations.

  4. Take the result into account

    If there are conditions, the company checks the protective measures and improves them where necessary.

The company bears the costs unless an insurance carrier pays. Where there is a risk of an occupational disease, it can have them reimbursed by the AUVA, except for lost working time and travel costs. I do not carry out all of these examinations myself. Whether I can take them on for your activities, we clarify beforehand in a short conversation.

Source: Health surveillance at the AUVA (German) (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions

Does my company have to be looked after by an occupational physician?

Yes. Under the Austrian Employee Protection Act (ASchG), employers with employees must engage occupational physicians and safety specialists. For smaller companies, the AUVA (Austrian Social Accident Insurance) also offers care under certain conditions. In our initial conversation we will clarify what applies to you.

Which examinations are mandatory for my employees?

That depends on the activities and strains at the workplace, such as noise, hazardous substances or respiratory protection. In a conversation and during a workplace inspection I show you where aptitude and follow-up examinations are required. I do not carry out all of these examinations myself; whether I can take them on for you, we clarify in advance.

As an employer, will I learn my employees’ diagnoses?

No. Medical confidentiality applies. You only receive the information that is necessary for the company, for example whether someone is suitable for a task, but not medical findings or diagnoses.

What does occupational medical care cost?

That depends on the size of the company, the activities and the scope of services. After a non-binding initial conversation you receive a transparent quote.

A question that is missing here?

Write to me briefly about what your company needs.

Get in touch