An integral approach to in-plant occupational safety and health

Machinery, equipment, working agents and procedures must be designed, selected and used in prevention activity in such a way that accidents cannot occur during work and that work-related health hazards are avoided to the extent possible. In all their complexity, human beings however are the most important aspect in effective prevention activity. The safety and health of workers at work must consider both aspects, i.e. those of both safety and health. A number of approaches are taken for this purpose.

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.

Company 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 officers

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.

Special occupational preventive medicine and first aid
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.