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Prevention is better than cure.
Foto: Georg Schierling/Fotolia.de

Prevention

"Prevention is better than cure": the proverb is not only familiar, but also true. It could also be said to be the motto of the statutory accident insurance system, the principle of which is that of "prevention before compensation". For this reason, the statutory accident insurance institutions employ a wide range of measures and resources in the interests of safe and healthy work – in order to prevent accidents and occupational diseases from occurring in the first place.

The German Social Accident Insurance Institutions have a statutory obligation to assure the prevention of school and occupational accidents, occupational diseases and work-related health hazards by all suitable means. In turn, employers have an obligation to assure safety and health at their workplaces. The legal instruments employed for this purpose are state acts and regulations, and (non-statutory) accident prevention regulations (UVVs). The accident insurance institutions advise employers on preventive measures, and monitor their implementation.

The legal basis of occupational safety and health activity in Germany

 

The legal basis of occupational safety and health activity in Germany

Occupational safety and health is regulated by law. The German safety at work act addresses employers in the first instance, but also employees. The German Social Code addresses the accident insurance institutions; it forms the basis for accident prevention regulations and numerous rules which businesses are obliged to observe.

An integral approach to in-plant occupational safety and health

 

An integral approach to in-plant occupational safety and health

"Engineered" occupational safety and health is of great importance. Even more important in the area of prevention work is however an integral strategy. A comprehensive approach considers both occupational safety and health protection. Its focus is upon the human aspect.

 

 

Behavioural prevention

Behavioural prevention has the objective of assuring healthy structures (conditions) at work. Its purpose is that of creating safe and healthy workplaces by the avoidance of sources of hazards, by safe work equipment, and by the use of all conceivable safety facilities.

 

 

Prevention pays off

For most people, work and health are important parts of their lives. Everyone wants to stay healthy, and in gainful employment. Businesses and employers have a duty to retain the good health of their...

 

 

Occupational physicians and OSH professionals

The employer is required to direct his employees to work safely and to observe the accident prevention regulations; he must also draw their attention to the hazards at their workplaces.

 

 

Risk assessment and safety delegates

Possibly the most important element of a modern occupational safety and health strategy is that of risk assessment. The statutory accident insurance institutions have produced a variety of tools to assist them in this task.

 

 

Special occupational preventive medicine and first aid

Persons who are exposed to a particular health hazard in their occupational activity, receive support in accordance with the statutory accident insurance institutions' principles for preventive occupational health checks.

 

 

Campaigns and Events

Campaigns are a modern prevention instrument. The statutory accident insurance institutions have run campaigns regularly since 2003 in order to support the attainment of prevention objectives.