ABSTRACT
In Germany, the Occupational Safety Act requires every organization to employ or contract safety and health experts. The law calls for two kinds of experts: medical specialists on the one hand and safety professionals (Commonly referred to as “Sifa” in German) on the other. Aside from the general intra- and supra-company conditions and circumstances that shape the safety professional’s work, the development of personal (action) competences is crucial for effective prevention work. Every participant in the Sifa training program already has a wide range of different abilities and skills (competences) from their prior vocational training and career under their belts. The goal of the Sifa training program is to enable future safety professionals to perform their tasks effectively. Learning in the redesigned Sifa training program takes place with a real-world orientation. This also means that participants start using their new expertise at their current employer; reflecting on this experience helps consolidate their newly acquired competences.
