The short answer: The maximum fine for offences relating to designated technical equipment under Act No. 250/2021 Coll. is up to CZK 2,000,000; in practice, however, inspectors impose significantly lower penalties. The truly expensive element is not the fine itself, but a workplace accident caused by uninspected equipment – here, you face reduced insurance payouts, full civil liability and, in extreme cases, criminal prosecution. Putting your documentation and inspections in order is, by the way, an order of magnitude cheaper than any sanction; we have prepared a practical checklist of what to verify when the labour inspectorate calls.
A calculator in one hand, an inspection report in the other. It is a scenario no business owner ever wants to experience. Yet every year hundreds of entrepreneurs find themselves in exactly this position because they underestimated the state of their inspection documentation or workplace safety. And it is by no means just about a fine – the real risks of neglected OSH extend far beyond a penalty notice from the inspectorate.
What the law says
The legal framework in the Czech environment is primarily set out in Act No. 250/2021 Coll., which, from 1 July 2022, governs workplace safety in connection with the operation of designated technical equipment. It is this legislation that establishes the well-known ceiling for fines for offences – up to CZK 2,000,000. It is supplemented by Government Regulation No. 190/2022 Coll., which specifies the requirements for designated electrical equipment.
Compliance is supervised by the regional labour inspectorates and the State Labour Inspection Office. Simply put: electrical inspections and OSH documentation primarily fall under their remit. A specific, but no less important, area is fire protection, supervised by the Fire Rescue Service under Act No. 133/1985 Coll. – this covers, for instance, fire extinguishers or fire evacuation plans.
The good news is that the law does not operate a mechanism of automatic sanctions. It allows room for administrative discretion, mitigating circumstances and, above all, corrective action. The bad news? There is no statutory right to this leniency, and relying on an official’s forbearance is not a strategy you want to test.
The fine is a ceiling, not a rule – what you realistically face
The two-million-crown figure sounds alarming, but in real-world practice, such high sanctions are rarely imposed on small and medium-sized enterprises. Generally speaking, fines tend to be in the order of tens of thousands of crowns – particularly if it is a first offence and the employer demonstrates a willingness to rectify the shortcomings.
The truly expensive scenario is not the inspectorate’s fine, but a workplace accident involving equipment that should have passed its inspection long ago. In such a case, a chain of events is triggered that can threaten the very existence of the company:
- Employer’s liability for damage – if an employee is injured and it emerges that the equipment was not maintained in a safe condition, you bear full liability for the resulting damage. This includes not only compensation for pain and suffering and loss of amenity, but also recourse claims from the health insurer for the cost of treatment.
- Reduction or denial of insurance payout – when investigating an incident, insurers routinely check whether statutory obligations were fulfilled. Missing inspections, untrained employees or non-existent risk documentation constitute legitimate grounds for reducing the payout, or even refusing to settle the claim entirely.
- Criminal liability – in the case of serious workplace accidents resulting in permanent disability or death, general criminal liability is unavoidable. A matter that could have been resolved by a timely inspection costing a few thousand crowns can turn into a court case lasting several years.
- Reputational damage – once news of an accident gets out, business partners and potential employees can easily find the details. Repairing a reputation takes years and its cost is not covered by any insurance policy.
Five most common failings
We know from experience where companies most frequently slip up. Take the following list as a quick self-test – go through the points and check whether your house is in order:
- Expired inspections of electrical appliances and hand-held tools – the most common offence. Many companies have inspection labels, but the date on them is three years old. Intervals vary according to the environment and type of appliance, yet keeping track of them is the simplest task of all.
- Missing fixed wiring inspections – fixed installations in offices, workshops or business premises are subject to statutory intervals. When they are forgotten, it tends to be the first thing an inspector focuses on during a visit.
- Untrained personnel – missing attendance sheets – even if you conducted the training, without signed attendance sheets it is as though it never happened. Telling an inspector that „everyone knows what they are doing" will not stand up in a report.
- Missing job categorisation and risk documentation – without it, you cannot demonstrate that you know what risks your employees face and how you eliminate them. Yet this is the cornerstone of the entire OSH system.
- Fire extinguishers without a valid check – these fall under fire protection and the Fire Rescue Service, but during a concurrent inspection with the labour inspectorate they are among the most visible failings. The annual pressure vessel check must not be overlooked.
How much it costs to put things right
The cost of remedial action depends on the size of the company and the extent of the neglect, but one thing always holds true: it is a fraction of the amount you risk in the event of an accident or fine. The process itself consists of three logical steps.
First, an initial audit is carried out – identifying exactly what is missing, the state of documentation and equipment, and where the most critical gaps lie. A schedule of inspection intervals, training and checks is then drawn up so you can be certain nothing will be missed. Ongoing deadline tracking is key: a system that itself alerts you when an inspection is about to expire is the cheapest insurance there is. In addition, having a single supplier for electrical inspections, OSH documentation and training eliminates the risk of something slipping through the gaps between different providers.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a fine on the first inspection? An inspector is entitled to issue one, but in practice, for minor and rectifiable deficiencies, they usually set a deadline for corrective action. If you put things right within that deadline and provide evidence, a sanction may not be imposed at all. However, you cannot rely on this – for serious violations or repeat offences, a fine is immediate.
Do these obligations apply to a five-person company? Yes, and to an appropriate extent. The law does not distinguish between a five-person and a fifty-person company, but the scope of compliance depends on the nature of the work and workplace risks. Even a small workshop needs tool inspections, employee training and basic OSH documentation – it can just be completed more quickly and cheaply.
Who is responsible for inspections when we operate from rented premises? Generally, you, as the operator, are responsible for the inspection of your electrical appliances and own equipment – that means everything you brought in and plugged in. For fixed wiring, it depends on the stipulations in the lease agreement: in commercial leases, inspections are often arranged by the landlord, but it is your duty to have this contractually addressed and to hold a valid inspection report.
Do not wait for the inspectorate to knock. Contact us and we will systematically go through your documentation and electrical inspections. We operate in Brno and the surrounding areas and provide a complete service – from electrical inspections through OSH documentation to regular training. Leave deadline tracking to us, so you can focus on your business. Email us at info@ithope.cz or call +420 774 777 774.
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