Basic knowledge

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG) governs how the safety and health protection of workers at work are to the ensured and improved. According to section 5 ArbSchG and under the BGV A1 regulation of the Berufsgenossenschaften (institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention) employers must identify and assess the hazards at the workplace, lay down the resulting occupational safety and health measures on their own responsibility and check their effectiveness. The Occupational Safety and Health Act obliges the employer to conduct a risk assessment for all workplaces. This obligation is regardless of the number of workers.
The risk assessment is the prime basis for a systematic and successful safety and health management. It is crucial for reducing work accidents and occupational illness.
The risk assessment enables you, as the employer, to take the necessary measures to protect the safety and health of your workers.
Such measures include:

• the avoidance of dangers at the workplace,
• the provision of information for workers,
• the provision of courses of training for workers,
• the introduction of the organisation and methods for the implementation of necessary measures.