The German Occupational Safety and Health Act, das Arbeitsschutzgesetz, says what workers may do in sudden danger. In Section 9, the decision belongs first to the responsible supervisor. Employees facing an immediate and serious danger must be able to take suitable measures themselves wenn der zuständige Vorgesetzte nicht erreichbar ist, when the responsible supervisor cannot be reached. Den Beschäftigten dürfen aus ihrem Handeln keine Nachteile entstehen, es sei denn, sie haben vorsätzlich oder grob fahrlässig ungeeignete Maßnahmen getroffen. They may not be penalized for acting, unless they took unsuitable measures on purpose or with gross negligence. The employer must also make it possible for workers to bring themselves to safety durch sofortiges Verlassen der Arbeitsplätze, by leaving their workplaces at once. Den Beschäftigten dürfen hierdurch keine Nachteile entstehen. A worker who walks off a site because a trench wall starts to give way may not be punished for it.