Current research projects

Return on prevention for companies (ROP): international project

The International Social Security Association (ISSA), the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and the Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse (BG ETEM) start a joint project "Calculating the International Return on Prevention for Companies: Costs and Benefits of Investments in Occupational Safety and Health". The aim of the cross-country project is to draw up prevention balance sheets (in monetary format) for companies in different countries and to calculate the country-specific return on prevention. 

Use of mobile phones whilst driving

What behaviour does a driver exhibit whilst using a mobile phone, compared to when conversing with a passenger? What differences in driving behaviour are observed depending upon whether the driver uses a hands-free device or holds the phone? Is the driver hindered overall more by the conversation, or by operation of the phone? These and other questions are to be addressed systematically within a literature survey. The objective of the project is to produce an overview of the factors which have been studied to date regarding the use of mobile phones during driving, to assess these factors critically, and to formulate recommendations for behaviour for insured individuals.

Personnel development for occupations of limited duration: my next occupation

A disproportionately large number of employees leave certain occupations early; despite prevention efforts, these occupations are exercised only for a limited period. Our project, in the context of the iga - Initiative Health and Work, supplements traditional preventive approaches and concentrates on an alternative route: the switching of employees to other tasks or occupations. We develop measures to enable this switch to take place at the right time and to the right occupation, and for it to be well prepared. This enables the individuals concerned to remain healthy and in work for longer.
The results for the model occupation of in-patient nursing care have already been published. At present, the project is being continued for the occupation of road worker and civil engineering worker.

Unintentional actuation of the controls on compact excavators

Compact excavators feature narrow cabs. According to the standard, the room allowed for the excavator operator by the cab width may be reduced in the case of compact excavators from the usual 920 mm to 650 mm. This space must accommodate not only broad shoulders, but also legs, and beside or in front of the seat, the controls for operation of the excavator functions.
The standard is currently the subject of renewed discussion. Is the danger too great of the machine operator inadvertently knocking the controls with his knee, or with his arm when for example he attempts to swat insects in the summer? Based upon interviews, the experience of excavator operators is being assessed in order for the risk of inadvertent operation of the controls and a resulting hazard situation to be assessed.

Lighting and shift work

Human beings are by nature diurnal: their chronobiology is adapted to the day/night cycle. Work at night is more demanding than during the day; in addition, the risk of health impairments and accidents is higher during night work.
In order to answer the question of whether special lighting may help to reduce fatigue in the short term and sleep-related complaints in the long term among night workers, we have launched a project sponsored by the DGUV for evaluation of the international literature in this area, and are supervising it together with experts from the accident insurance institutions. The results are to yield recommendations for practical application.

Designing mobile computer-based work

Here today, there tomorrow: more and more people are working on the move, i.e. at changing locations. Traditional risk assessments may not adequately detect hazards to which mobile employees are exposed. The BGIA and IAG have been addressing this issue in a joint project. Further information can be found in our research database (BGIA1097).

Learning from advertising

Little is available in the way of scientifically validated findings regarding the effective design of prevention media. By contrast, considerably more research has been performed into the effectiveness of advertising. But can the findings from this research be transferred to prevention activity?
The conclusion of the study is that the findings from research into the effect of advertising can be exploited, provided attention is paid to certain particular requirements of prevention. These requirements are described in iga Report 18. The report also contains information on design, which has been confirmed empirically.

What differences exist between younger and older drivers?

In order for drivers to process information from the traffic around them, their eyes must be guided continually and fixed on individual objects, even if only briefly. Seeing, however, does not necessarily mean registering. Drawing the right conclusions from the visual information obtained requires experience. Younger drivers are subject to characteristic accident patterns which distinguish them from older drivers. The question thus arises to what extent younger and older drivers differ in the way their eyes are guided differently in certain traffic situations, and in the duration of fixation. This is determined in a traffic simulator by means of an eye tracking system. Findings from this project can be exploited directly in the driving training courses run by the accident insurance institutions and the German Road Safety Council (DVR).

Accident data in the woodworking sector, broken down by age

Older employees are less frequently ill than younger employees. Should they fall ill, however, they are off work on average for longer periods. This can be seen from both the data from the health insurance institutions, and the BGs' occupational accident statistics. Do the causes of accidents also differ according to the employees' age? Accident data from the BG responsible for the woodworking sector were evaluated with regard to the cause of the accidents and the age of the accident victims. An initial analysis revealed that in the member companies of this BG, younger employees suffered accidents more frequently than their older counterparts. Irrespective of the tools employed and the sub-sector of the woodworking industry, insured individuals aged up to 25 were at the highest risk. The results are presented comprehensively in the "Oldie but Goldie?" information sheet published by the BG responsible for the woodworking industry.

Study into the recognizability of safety signs

The character height and viewing distance at which safety signs can be recognized is a recurring subject of discussion. The expert committee responsible for safety signage therefore commissioned a study by the IAG into the recognition distances of safety signs. For this purpose, safety signs were selected in various sizes and at a range of viewing distances, and tests then performed of when the test persons were able to recognize the signs clearly, and when this was no longer possible.

The use of computers for safety instruction

In response to the growing interest in electronic instruction systems, a research project has been launched on this subject. The objective of the project is to test their usability and acceptance in comparison with conventional instruction methods. The impact of e-instruction upon the employees' attitude, behaviour and familiarity with the instruction subject-matter is being recorded. The parties to the project are partner companies, the responsible BGs and the software vendor.

Recording criteria, stresses and hazards: igaCheck

The igaCheck is an existing instrument which supports the systematic recording and documentation of vocational criteria, stresses and hazards. Its usability is currently being simplified. One aspect of this is that an additional, abbreviated version is being made available. The igaCheck is also being updated and the software adapted to the latest generation of computers.

Workplace classification: support for persons with impaired performance

For the re-integration of persons with impaired performance, it is becoming increasingly important to design the interface between the worker and their workplace precisely and effectively. A classification of workplace types is therefore being developed based upon typical task requirements in the construction sector. For workplace types which occur frequently, the requirements profile is being drawn up which must be satisfied by a worker at the workplaces concerned. The classification is a useful aid for the development of measures by which workplaces can be adapted for various forms of performance impairment, and thus for optimization of the interface. 

How successful is the noise campaign in the meat processing trade?

Owing to the high number of reported suspected cases, the combating of occupational deafness has for some years been a primary aim of the FBG, the BG responsible for the meat-processing industry. The FBG therefore prepared the "Stoppt den Lärm!" (Stop the Noise!) campaign, focusing on this issue, for 2009. Evaluation of this campaign?s effectiveness is the responsibility of the IAG. Prior to the launch of the campaign, a written survey was conducted of employers and OSH professionals, in order for the current noise situation in plants to be defined, and to enable specific, corresponding measures to be planned. Whether the campaign has had the desired result is to be determined in 2010 by a further survey.