Fields of activity of the IFA

Institute for occupational safety and health of the German Social Accident Insurance

IFA´s activities focus primarily on the following technical domains:

Chemical/biological hazards (dusts, gases, vapours)

• Analysis of metals and selected organic pollutants
• Analysis of organic and selected inorganic pollutants
• Measuring system exposure assessment of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions (MGU)
• Biological agents
• Dust - Fibres
• Emission of hazardous substances
• Exposure assessment
• Exposure database (MEGA) 
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) against chemical/biological hazards
• Protective measures
• Substance- and product-related data (GESTIS and ISi)
• Techniques for measurement of vapours and gases
• Techniques for particle measurement
• Toxicology of industrial chemicals
  

Dust explosions 

Physical hazards

• Database on physical exposure
• Hand-arm vibration
• Hot/cold surfaces
• Noise measurement
• Noise protection/Hearing protection
• PPE against physical hazards
• Radiation
• Whole body vibration

Ergonomics 

Epidemiology 

Accident prevention/Product safety

• Fluid power
• Material science and tools
• New technologies
• Protective devices and control systems
• Safety of machines and installations
• Structural engineering/Constructional elements
• Transport and traffic

Interdisciplinary services

• Basic and further training
• Co-operations
• Information management
• Information technology
• Media contact
• Risk assessment