The five pillars of occupational health and safety
The term “occupational health and safety” covers various aspects. These interlock and build on each other. This is why we refer to the “5 pillars of occupational health and safety” in this article.
They include:
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Risk assessment
- Occupational safety organization
- Instruction
- Occupational Safety Act
1. Occupational health and safety law
The “Gesetz über die Durchführung von Maßnahmen des Arbeitsschutzes zur Verbesserung der Sicherheit und des Gesundheitsschutzes der Beschäftigten bei der Arbeit”, or Occupational Health and Safety Act for short, applies in all areas of activity (for special cases/exceptions, see §1, Para. 1, 2).
The intention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is to ensure and improve the safety and health protection of employees at work through occupational health and safety measures (see ArbSchG §1, para.1).
The law is also intended to ensure that any hazards are quickly identified and eliminated in order to provide employees with the best possible protection during working hours. The Occupational Health and Safety Act is further specified by other ordinances, such as the Hazardous Substances Ordinance or the Workplace Ordinance.
2. Risk assessment
The employer is obliged to carry out a risk assessment, implement suitable protective measures and prepare comprehensive documentation. The employer can carry this out themselves or commission expert and trained personnel to do so.
A risk assessment is used to determine the hazard potential and show which protective measures need to be taken. It is advisable to carry out the assessment on the basis of the conditions at the workplace and the physical and mental demands placed on the employee. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides assistance with the risk assessment.
There are various risk factors for a risk assessment. A distinction is made between thermal, mechanical, electrical or biological hazards or hazards due to hazardous substances. Each factor is characterized by a specific definition and description of the consequences. Which factors apply in detail depends on the workplace and the individual activity, as well as the substances used.
3. Occupational health and safety organization
Good organization is important to ensure occupational health and safety. To this end, occupational health and safety management systems and processes can be created to guide compliance with and improvement of occupational health and safety. This includes, for example, the provision and inspection of personal protective equipment (helmets, safety goggles, etc.). Work processes can also be optimized and substances used can be substituted in order to minimize hazards.
You can find more information on the topic of protective measures in our article “Protective measures at the workplace.”
Further information can be found at the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
4. Instruction
The employer is obliged to instruct the employee in occupational health and safety measures. He can also train the employee as a safety officer, so that the employee himself is able to issue instructions. The instruction must always be adapted to the company and the respective work situation. Furthermore, the instruction must be documented and countersigned by both parties. New employees must be familiarized with the safety instructions before starting work. During operation, these must be checked and the instruction repeated regularly.
5. Occupational safety law
The Occupational Safety Act contains the “essential regulations on the company’s occupational safety organization”. It obliges the employer to appoint and make use of company doctors. They are to check compliance with and the effectiveness of the protective measures. The company doctors provide expert advice to help improve occupational health and safety. The aim is to check and ensure existing occupational health and safety and to integrate accident prevention into the work process.
Sources:
[1]: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsschutz/erklaerung-arbeitsschutz.html
[2]: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/arbschg/index.html
[3]: https://www.arbeitsschutzgesetz.org/
[4]: https://www.arbeitsschutz-portal.de/beitrag/asp_info/2388/gesetze-verordnungen-vorschriften-im-arbeitsschutz-a-z.html
[5]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsgestaltung-im-Betrieb/Gefaehrdungsbeurteilung/_functions/BereichsPublikationssuche_Formular.html?nn=8703478
[6]: https://osha.europa.eu/de
[7]: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/asig/BJNR018850973.html#BJNR018850973BJNG000100319
[8]: https://www.arbeitssicherheit.de/service/lexikon/artikel/arbeitssicherheitsgesetz.html