2.3.1 The safety professional (Sicherheitsfachkraft Sifa)
Besides all the experts educated at universities and the company physician the Sifa is the only state-approved expert of OHS in Germany. Its job is based on the three laws named in chapter I especially on ASiG § 5 et sqq. By the ASiG the safety supervision and consultation of enterprises by Sifas is oblique. Mostly the Sifa is a normal employee of the enterprise, but because of a further education he is also able to fulfil the tasks of the Sifa. In bigger enterprises it mostly is a fulltime job. The major tasks of the Sifa are to advise and to support the employer on every question of OHS. Because this is a very demanding and difficult job, there is a job specification for the Sifa education. The trainee has to have a qualification as engineer or technician and he needs to have at least a two years working experience. The education exists as a blended learning system and consists of several parts like presence learning, CBT-self- studies and one placement. This system of learning is explained in detail in chapter 8.1. The education of the Sifa is based on a curriculum created by the BGs that is coherent throughout Germany and can only be provided by state-approved institutions. The financing of this education depends on the BGs and the employers. If an enterprise is insured by a BG that provides this education within his service than it is free. Otherwise the employer has to pay. Anually approximately 4000 people are trained as Sifas.