Three levels of electronic signature (eIDAS)
The EU eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014, in force in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia) distinguishes three levels:
Simple (basic) electronic signature — any data attached to a document by which the signer expresses their will (clicking "I agree", a graphical signature, a signature on a touchscreen). It requires no certificate. Under Art. 25(1) eIDAS, it may not be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence solely because it is electronic or not qualified. Its evidentiary strength is assessed in context — i.e. by how well it documents who signed, when, and what.
Advanced electronic signature (AdES) — cryptographically uniquely linked to the signer and able to detect any subsequent change to the document. It typically requires a certificate.
Qualified electronic signature (QES) — the highest level, based on a qualified certificate issued by a certified authority. It is the only one that, by law, automatically carries the same legal weight as a handwritten signature throughout the EU.
A higher level does not mean "the only valid one". With a QES, equivalence to a handwritten signature is automatic; with a simple signature, legal effect and evidentiary value are demonstrated through the surrounding circumstances and the audit trail.
Which level aReception meets
The aReception mechanism corresponds to a simple electronic signature under Art. 3(10) eIDAS, but with an unusually strong identification of the signer:
At the kiosk, the person is identified by scanning their ID card; in the web Portal, by a unique login tied to that person's e‑mail. The graphical form of the signature, the date and time, and (in the Portal) the IP address are stored with the signature.
From a GDPR perspective: what is stored is the graphical form of the signature (an image), not dynamic biometric data (speed, pressure, pen tilt). The signature is therefore not considered a biometric datum / a special category of personal data under Art. 9 GDPR — which simplifies the whole solution. The data controller is the customer (the employer).
Which level OHS actually requires
To prove that a person was made familiar with OHS (occupational health and safety) documents, the law requires neither an advanced nor a qualified signature. The Slovak Act No. 124/2006 Coll. (§ 7) obliges the employer to demonstrably familiarize the employee. The law does not prescribe a specific technical form of signature — what matters is that the employer can discharge the burden of proof that the given person was, at a given time, familiarized with given content. The same logic applies in the Czech Republic (Labour Code + Act No. 297/2016 Coll.; in Slovakia, Act No. 272/2016 Coll. on trust services).
A simple electronic signature with a complete audit trail is therefore sufficient and acceptable for OHS purposes. The practical recommendation to "do it in writing" concerns the strength of the evidence, not the condition of validity — and that is satisfied by the aReception solution through identification (ID card / login) and the audit trail.
Answers to the four specific questions
What legal force the electronic signature has — it is a simple electronic signature under eIDAS, to which Art. 25 guarantees legal effect and admissibility as evidence before a court and during an inspection. It is fully sufficient to evidence OHS familiarization and, combined with strong identification, has high evidentiary value.
Identification of the signer — at the kiosk by scanning the ID card; in the web Portal by a unique login tied to the person's e‑mail. The record is assigned to that person's specific account/profile.
Audit trail — yes. The system stores the date, time, identification of the person, the graphical signature, and the link to the specific content of the signed document (plus the IP address in the Portal).
Form of archiving and acceptability during an inspection — records are archived electronically in PDF format in the Portal (servers in the EU) for the period necessary; they are assigned to the person's account tied to their e‑mail. The data controller is the customer. During a labour inspectorate inspection, they serve as documentary proof that the familiarization obligation was met.
Recommendation on the retention period — the retention period should be set according to limitation and inspection periods. Because, in connection with a possible work injury or occupational disease, familiarization may need to be evidenced several years back, we recommend keeping records for the entire duration of the employment relationship and for a reasonable period after it ends.
Disclaimer: aReception provides this statement as factual information; it does not constitute legal advice. We recommend verifying how it applies to your specific operations with your own lawyer.