Dualism
The German OSH system rests on two pillars - state-provided OSH activities and those performed by the statutory accident insurance institutions. The latter are the
- Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (German Statutory Accident Insurance, DGUV)
- Bundesverband der Landwirtschaftlichen Berufsgenossenschaften (Federal Association of Institutions for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Agricultural Sector, BLB)
Membership is compulsory for all enterprises and public authorities, which means that all employed persons in Germany have insurance cover for occupational accidents and diseases. The accident insurance institutions, and thus the insurance benefits paid in the event of an occupational accident or disease, are financed by means of employer contributions. The accident insurance institutions' tasks range from employing all suitable means to prevent occupational accidents and diseases as well as work-related health risks to ensuring effective first aid is in place. To this end, meetings of representatives of the accident insurance institutions adopt accident-prevention regulations (abbreviated to "UVV" in German), which have to be approved by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour. Compliance with the UVVs is monitored by the "Technische Aufsichtsdienste" (Technical Inspection Services, TADs) of the relevant accident insurance institution. Another primary task of the TADs is to advise employers and employees. The following chart illustrates this concept of dualism in the German OSH system, where both state-provided OSH activities and the accident insurance institutions have their place.
