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A SAFETEE guide

Choosing an HSE provider:Twelve questions before you award.

Which type of provider fits your project, and how do you recognise quality before the contract is signed? Twelve criteria with check questions, SAFETEE's answer to each, and a requirements check that turns your answers into a role profile and a checklist.

4 provider types12 criteriaCheck without data transfer
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Twelve criteriaGuide
QualificationPlant typeAvailabilityContractOnboardingMethodsLeadershipToolsProximityLanguagesInsuranceReferencesTwelve criteria01Qualification
Check questionsHow does the provider ensure that every specialist deployed holds the required evidence?
Tap a criterion to jump to its explanation
01
Short answer

What really matters
when you choose.

Choose an HSE provider for a major project by what the site needs, not by the type of provider. What counts is the proven qualification of the deployed specialists, which the provider vouches for, experience with the plant type, secured availability with cover, a suitable contract type and effective leadership on site. SAFETEE provides employed HSE managers and SiGeKo for this, selects them to fit your needs and vouches for their qualification. This guide is for clients, project managers, EPC contractors and procurement.

As of:

ForClientsProject managersEPC contractorsProcurementHSE leads

Role before provider

First clarify whether you need a SiGeKo under the Construction Site Ordinance, an HSE manager on site or consulting. The role determines the evidence.

Provider vouches for quality

Quality happens with the specialist on site, and the provider is accountable for it. The provider selects suitable specialists, proves their qualification and supplies an equivalent replacement if someone drops out.

Contract before start

Contract type, right to give instructions, duration and insurance belong clarified before the first day on site, not after.

02
Provider types

Four ways to staff HSE,
each with its own strengths.

In the market you will mainly meet four types. None is better per se; what matters is what your project needs. Hybrid forms are common, and many self-employed specialists work as freelancers. The same criteria apply to them. SAFETEE belongs to the fourth type.

SiGeKo office01

Engineering office for safety coordination

  • Clear focus on the Construction Site Ordinance
  • Often regionally rooted with a fixed contact
  • Experience in building, civil and structural engineering

Fits whencoordination under BaustellV is needed for a clearly defined construction project.

Checkcover, experience with the plant type and whether permanent presence on site is feasible.

Agency work02

Staffing provider and temporary agency work

  • Fast staffing from a broad candidate pool
  • Flexible durations
  • Specialist works integrated under your instructions

Fits whenyou integrate HSE staff into your own organisation and lead them professionally yourself.

Checkthe licence under the AÜG, maximum period and equal treatment, and who handles onboarding.

Testing group03

Testing and certification organisation

  • Broad range of inspection, expert and certification services
  • Nationwide presence
  • Deep knowledge of standards and independence in inspection tasks

Fits wheninspection, expert and certification services are to be bundled.

Checkhow the provider ensures quality and continuity on site over the term.

Own staff04
How SAFETEE works

HSE provider with own staff and consulting

  • Employed specialists under the provider's own professional leadership
  • Cover from the provider's own team
  • Operational HSE work and consulting from one source, kept separate

Fits whenyour project needs HSE presence for months and leadership of the specialists should stay with the provider.

Checkthe actual share of employed specialists, the depth of consulting and regional coverage.

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03
Twelve criteria

Twelve criteria,
two to three check questions each.

Use the check questions in the selection interview or as part of the tender. The requirements check in the next section shows which criteria have priority for your project.

01

Qualification that fits the role

Each role has its own evidence: a SiGeKo under RAB 30 with coordinator knowledge per Annex C, an occupational safety specialist with expertise under section 7 ASiG, GWO training on wind sites and often NEBOSH on international projects.

Check questions
  • How does the provider ensure that every specialist deployed holds the required evidence?
  • Are certificates valid, for example GWO with an entry in the WINDA database?
  • Does the qualification cover the role stated in the contract?

At SAFETEEPermanently employed specialists trained as occupational safety specialists or with a comparable qualification, supplemented per project by GWO, SCC or SiGeKo under RAB 30. SAFETEE vouches for the evidence of every specialist it deploys.

02

Experience with the plant type

A wind farm, a battery storage site, a substation and a production plant differ in hazards, trades and operator rules. Experience with the same plant type shortens onboarding and makes hazards visible earlier.

Check questions
  • How many comparable projects have the provider's specialists supported?
  • Do they know the typical hazards and interfaces of this plant type?

At SAFETEEFocus on onshore and offshore wind, grid expansion, petrochemicals and industrial and plant construction. More than 3,200 projects since 2013.

03

Availability and cover

Holidays, sickness and shift changes can be planned. What matters is who takes over, how quickly, and whether the cover knows the project.

Check questions
  • Who covers in case of absence, and how soon is the cover on site?
  • Is the cover briefed in advance or starting from zero?
  • How is a change of staff handed over and documented?

At SAFETEEA permanent team of employed HSE managers at five locations. Cover for holidays or sickness comes from our own team.

04

Employment, temporary agency work or freelancer

Under temporary agency work (German AÜG) the specialist works under your instructions within your organisation. The agency needs a licence, the contract must expressly name the arrangement as agency work, and the maximum period is 18 months. Under a service or work contract the provider directs its own specialists.

Check questions
  • Which contract type is planned, and does it match who actually gives instructions on site?
  • For agency work: is the licence in place, and does the term fit the maximum period?
  • Does the provider select the specialist against your requirement profile and answer for them? If you pick individuals yourself, that points towards agency work.

At SAFETEESAFETEE selects the specialist against your requirement profile, leads them professionally and answers for their quality.

05

Onboarding and training

Good people are prepared for a project: client standards, plant type, tools and escalation paths. Structured onboarding shows whether a provider secures quality systematically.

Check questions
  • How is the specialist prepared for your project before deployment?
  • Is there a fixed training programme, and who is responsible for it?

At SAFETEEOngoing training through the SAFETEE Academy. Every assignment is agreed and prepared with your project management.

06

Methodological competence

Risk assessment, permits to work, incident investigation and behaviour observation are a craft. Those who master methods find causes in the system instead of culprits.

Check questions
  • Which methods are used to investigate events?
  • How are observations turned into actions and indicators?

At SAFETEEBehaviour Based Safety, incident investigation, HIRA and LMRA are part of the craft. For deeper analysis there is Safety Consulting, for example Incident Investigation.

07

Leadership and escalation

Even experienced specialists need backing: professional leadership at the provider, clear escalation paths and a contact who can take decisions.

Check questions
  • Who leads the specialist professionally, and how often do they align?
  • Which escalation levels apply when work is stopped?
  • Who is your contact at management level?

At SAFETEEOne fixed contact for the whole term, and on large projects a team lead for deployment planning and quality assurance.

08

Digital tools and documentation

Digital last minute risk assessments, inspection reports and indicators make safety traceable. What matters is that the data belongs to you and can be exported.

Check questions
  • How are inspections, deficiencies and actions documented?
  • Can you access the data at any time, and where is it stored?

At SAFETEEThe SAFETEE Suite with digital LMRA, HIRA, Ready-To-Go check and Performance Monitor. On request we work in your systems.

09

Regional proximity

Short distances save travel time and make cover easier. For projects at several locations a network of offices counts for more than a single office.

Check questions
  • Where do the specialists travel from, and who bears travel and accommodation costs?
  • Are further specialists nearby for short-notice cover?

At SAFETEELocations in Bochum, Hamburg, Berlin, Magdeburg and Mainz, assignments across Germany and Europe.

10

Languages

Large sites bring together teams from many countries. Briefings only work when they are understood, and reports to international clients are often in English.

Check questions
  • In which languages can the specialist brief workers and report?
  • How are workers without German or English reached?

At SAFETEEToolbox talks, reports and risk assessments in German and English, also in your reporting formats.

11

Liability and insurance

Advice and coordination can touch financial losses and personal injury. A current proof of insurance with suitable cover belongs in every award.

Check questions
  • Which liability insurance is in place, and does it cover advisory and coordination services?
  • Is there a current certificate stating the sums insured?

At SAFETEEBusiness liability insurance with EUR 5 million cover. Certified to EN ISO 9001 and SCC; we provide proof of cover and certificates for your supplier evaluation.

12

Checking references

Reference lists show where a provider has worked, not how. A short call with a former client says more than any list.

Check questions
  • Is there a reference from a comparable project with a contact person?
  • What role did the provider have there, and for how long?
  • Would the former client award the work again?

At SAFETEEClients range from international manufacturers and operators to mid-sized companies. We name references from comparable projects in the first meeting.

Ask in the interview
Who vouches for quality?Who covers?Which evidence?Who leads professionally?Which contract type?Who owns the data?Which reference?Who vouches for quality?Who covers?Which evidence?Who leads professionally?Which contract type?Who owns the data?Which reference?
04
Requirements check

Eight questions,
your role profile.

Answer eight questions with a click. The result shows a recommended role profile and a checklist for your selection. Everything runs in your browser; no data is transferred or stored.

1Plant type
2Project size
3Duration
4Need
5Language on site
6Working hours
7Region
8Start date
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05
Facts and legal basis

What law and rules
require.

§ 3
BaustellV: coordinator as soon as employees of several employers work on site
2 years
minimum professional experience for coordinators under RAB 30
18 months
maximum period for placing the same agency worker (section 1 (1b) AÜG)
24 months
validity of GWO Basic Safety certificates, then refresher
Answered briefly

What does RAB 30 require of a SiGeKo?

RAB 30 specifies section 3 of the German Construction Site Ordinance. A suitable coordinator needs construction and occupational safety knowledge, specific coordinator knowledge under Annex C and at least two years of professional experience in planning or executing construction projects, graded by complexity. Ask for the Annex C course certificate and for comparable projects.

Source: RAB 30, edition 27.03.2003; section 3 BaustellV. Retrieved 29.09.2026.

How does agency work differ from a service or work contract?

What matters is who gives instructions. Under agency work the specialist is integrated into your organisation and follows your instructions; the agency needs a licence and the contract must expressly name the arrangement. Under a service or work contract the provider directs its own people. If practice deviates from the contract, sections 9 and 10 AÜG may apply.

Source: section 1 AÜG; IHK Ostwestfalen, as of 01.07.2026. Not legal advice.

Sources
06
Frequently asked

What clients ask
before awarding.

What does an external HSE manager cost?

It depends on qualification, duration, shift model, plant type and travel and accommodation costs. Billing is usually by day rate or monthly fee. Offers only become comparable with the same scope: presence on site, cover, documentation and incidental costs should be defined the same way in every offer.

SiGeKo or HSE manager: which do I need?

The client appoints the SiGeKo under section 3 of the Construction Site Ordinance as soon as employees of several employers work on site. The SiGeKo coordinates; employer duties stay with the companies. An HSE manager is a contractual role that implements HSE requirements on site. On major projects both roles complement each other; the contract defines who does what.

Agency work or work contract?

What counts is who actually instructs the specialist. If you lead, it is agency work with a licence, naming in the contract and a maximum period of 18 months. If the provider leads, a service or work contract fits. What matters is that practice and contract match. If in doubt, have the contract reviewed by an employment lawyer.

How quickly can a provider start?

That depends on plant type, qualification and region. Have the requirement profile, the availability date and the replacement arrangement confirmed in writing. Request the deployed specialist's evidence before the start so that the first day on site does not start with checking documents.

Which evidence should I request?

For the person: the RAB 30 Annex C course certificate for a SiGeKo, occupational safety specialist expertise, valid GWO certificates registered in WINDA on wind sites, NEBOSH where needed. For the company: proof of insurance, references and the certifications your project requires, such as SCC or ISO 9001.

Do HSE staff on wind farms need GWO certificates?

On wind sites manufacturers and operators usually require GWO Basic Safety Training from everyone who climbs turbines, including HSE staff. Certificates are valid for 24 months and are then refreshed; proof runs via the WINDA database. Clarify the manufacturer's requirements before awarding.

How do I check references properly?

Ask for a comparable project with a contact person and call yourself. Clarify what role the provider had, how long they were on site, how cover worked and whether the former client would award the work again. Also ask how the provider selects its specialists and how it answers for their quality.

Does the requirements check store my answers?

No. The check runs entirely in your browser. There is no form, no transfer and no storage. As soon as you close the page, the answers are gone. You can copy or print the checklist.

07
Contact

Questions about selection? Let's talk about your project.

Jennifer Stöckel is your first point of contact and connects you with the right specialist or consulting.