Psychological Risk Assessment for Care & Healthcare
Nursing staff, care workers and medical personnel are among the most psychologically stressed occupational groups in Germany. Confrontation with dying and death, chronic understaffing and physical assaults by patients lead to elevated burnout rates. The legal obligation for psychological risk assessment is particularly urgent in this sector.
Typical Psychological Stressors for Care & Healthcare
Emotional labour: constant confrontation with suffering, dying and death
Chronic understaffing and work under time pressure without adequate breaks
Physical violence and verbal aggression from patients and relatives
Irregular shift work including night and weekend shifts
High responsibility with simultaneous lack of decision-making autonomy
Typical Health Hazards
- Burnout due to permanently excessive emotional demands
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from critical incidents
- Sleep disorders and chronic exhaustion from shift work
- Depression due to lack of recovery opportunities and missing appreciation
Sector-Specific Legal Notes
In inpatient facilities, the state care home acts and the Care Staff Strengthening Act (PpSG) also apply, which contain minimum staffing requirements. The trade association for health services and welfare (BGW) offers sector-specific GB Psych instruments.
Additionally: §5 para. 3 no. 6 ArbSchG obliges all employers to include psychological stress in the risk assessment.
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Get state-specific information on the psychological risk assessment for Care & Healthcare — including the competent authority and local legal requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the psychological risk assessment mandatory for Care & Healthcare?
Yes. Since 2013, §5 para. 3 no. 6 ArbSchG has required all employers without exception to include psychological stress in the risk assessment — this applies equally to all companies employing Care & Healthcare workers, regardless of company size.
Which specific psychological stressors must be assessed for Care & Healthcare?
For Care & Healthcare, the GDA guidelines require assessment of all six design areas. Particularly relevant are: Emotional labour: constant confrontation with suffering, dying and death, Chronic understaffing and work under time pressure without adequate breaks, Physical violence and verbal aggression from patients and relatives. All stress factors must be documented across all employee groups.
How long does a psychological risk assessment for Care & Healthcare take?
With professional software like SafeMind, the complete psychological risk assessment for Care & Healthcare takes just a few days instead of weeks. The employee survey runs automatically in 15+ languages, the analysis happens in real time and the documentation is created automatically in GDA-compliant format.
What happens without a psychological risk assessment for Care & Healthcare?
Companies without a complete psychological risk assessment face fines of up to €30,000 per violation under §25 ArbSchG. The trade inspectorates specifically check the documentation for Care & Healthcare as part of the GDA programme 2024–2028.
Are there sector-specific requirements for Care & Healthcare?
Yes: In inpatient facilities, the state care home acts and the Care Staff Strengthening Act (PpSG) also apply, which contain minimum staffing requirements. The trade association for health services and welfare (BGW) offers sector-specific GB Psych instruments. In addition, the federal ArbSchG §5 applies to all employers.