Ask project leads in architecture and trade‑fair / event builds about their biggest stressors and you’ll hear the same answers: compressed schedules, many trades working in parallel, and safety requirements that ‘suddenly’ take centre stage. In that context one term surfaces regularly—often with a sigh: SiGeKo, short for safety and health coordination.

Many treat it as an annoying obligation that only adds paperwork. In reality, SiGeKo is much more: used correctly it is a lever for efficiency, safety and legal certainty.

The legal basis is clear. In Germany, the Construction Site Ordinance (BauStellV) obliges the client to appoint a coordinator for safety and health on any site with multiple companies. This is complemented by DGUV regulations (German Social Accident Insurance) and the Occupational Safety Act (ArbSchG).

Ignoring this is no trivial matter:

• Fines of up to several tens of thousands of euros are possible.
• In case of incidents, personal liability may apply to clients or project managers.
• Insurers may refuse benefits if no SiGeKo was appointed.

Why do projects still stumble over safety topics? The most common causes are banal:

• No clear coordination: each subcontractor works in isolation; no one keeps the overall hazard picture.
• Missing safety briefings: external staff are sent to site without knowing the hazards.
• Contradictory plans: egress routes, rigging structures and staging are not aligned.
• Parallel work without coordination: one team works at height while another sets up below—accident risk guaranteed.

These errors cause not only hazards but also delays, stop‑works and extra cost.

Implemented properly, SiGeKo unlocks substantial potential:

• Efficiency gains: clear processes prevent trades from waiting on each other.
• Fewer stop‑works: organisation and safety prevent authority intervention.
• Productivity: if hazards are eliminated early, teams can work with more focus.
• Trust: clients and visitors see that safety is taken seriously—an image factor not to be underestimated.

In short: safety is efficiency.

A key advantage emerges when the SiGeKo role is taken by an experienced specialist planner. They know the technical trades, understand their risks and can realistically assess conflicts.

Examples:

• A planner recognises that rigging truss is not only a static issue but a safety one when it compromises escape routes.
• They know BMA and AV can collide not only technically but also in safety terms.
• They can propose measures that work in practice, not just on paper.

This turns the SiGeKo from a ‘form‑filler’ into the project’s moderator and ‘safety architect’.

• Early engagement: the coordinator must be on board from the start—not shortly before build.
• Documentation and plans: safety and health plans are mandatory and must be understandable.
• Regular walk‑throughs: problems are only visible on site.
• Immediate communication: deviations must be reported and resolved at once.
• Shared responsibility: each contractor shares responsibility—the coordinator bundles it, but absolves no one.

Case study: smooth trade‑fair build

An automotive brand built a multi‑storey booth. In previous years the build‑up phase saw heavy inter‑trade conflicts—safety concerns even led to stop‑works.

With consistent H&S coordination, the process changed: clear briefings, daily safety rounds, immediate reconciliations. Result: zero incidents, no delays, on‑time opening. The project lead later called it “the most relaxed show in years”.

SiGeKo isn’t a bureaucratic hurdle but a strategic tool. Used correctly, it reduces risk, accelerates delivery and creates legal certainty.

Especially in architecture and in trade‑fair / event builds with hard schedules: those who coordinate safety save time, money and nerves—and ensure the essential goal is met: a project completed on time, safely and successfully.