Recently, we received another interesting e-mail. In it, a sign manufacturer pointed out a mandatory posting by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and offered the new version of a first aid poster. The wording was legally sound, of course, but the text and presentation nevertheless suggested that companies should act quickly to avoid violating a DGUV regulation. Our colleagues from the specialist department also wondered whether they would now have to replace all first aid posters. In fact, nothing significant has changed in the new version of the poster. Only the sequence of questions for the emergency call has changed, and two QR codes have been added. The DGUV itself writes on its website: "Posters already in use continue to be valid. It is sufficient to replace these notices at the next regular revision in the company." Everything's not so bad, you might think, but the story goes even further.
Because the sign manufacturer also had an "attractive" offer in the bag. Only few days gave it the first aid poster namely for the special price of 10, - instead of 13.20 euro. A genuine Schnapp, one should think. Every member company can request these posters from the DGUV free of charge.
Such or similar mails reach us every few weeks. Again and again, imaginative businessmen try to do business with the insecurity of their fellow human beings. After all, who can keep up to date with the multitude of regulations, laws and ordinances? Therefore, such mails often contain sentences such as "Late implementation may result in fines." Particularly popular are also - as in the case of our poster - advantage offers that expire, if possible, on the next day or the day after. After all, you are not supposed to get a chance to deal with the issue in peace.
Especially then, it is good not to fall into blind actionism, but to read out the useful information first. In our example, this would be: The DGUV has revised a poster. You can use this information for your further action. One possibility would then be to research the topic yourself on the Internet. For example, if you Google "DGUV First Aid," you will immediately get a link to the appropriate information from the DGUV. However, it would be even better to do as our colleague from the department did and contact someone from occupational safety. The occupational safety experts can not only check the facts, but also notify everyone in the company who also needs this information, if necessary. In most cases, such e-mails are sent not only to one contact in the company, but also to many others - in the hope that someone will place an order quickly. Therefore: Do not be alarmed. Your colleagues from occupational safety are guaranteed to have an eye on all important changes and will inform you in good time. And if you don't have such a team of experts in-house: A quick search on the Internet will certainly save you time and money.
