Safety at work: health and accident prevention are a priority
This text is machine translated.
Whether it's a fall, cut or burn, accident-free working is an important principle in the workplace. But the reality is often different: every year in Germany, an average of 1,500 out of every 100,000 workers suffer an accident at work resulting in serious injury.
Many of these accidents are preventable. Not only do these accidents have immediate health consequences for those affected, they also have a negative impact on their families and the entire company.
You can significantly reduce risks in the workplace through targeted measures such as risk assessments, training and the provision of protective clothing. Occupational safety measures are primarily enshrined in law. However, hazard prevention and accident prevention are also in the interests of the companies themselves. With the right measures, you can make an important contribution to safety in the workplace. This guide shows you how you can protect yourself and your employees in every industry.
A normal working day – and then it happens: a small mistake, a moment of carelessness, and suddenly a colleague's life is turned upside down. An accident at work can not only cause physical damage, but also leave deep emotional scars.
The consequences of an accident at work can be far-reaching and costly for a company. They go far beyond the immediate medical expenses for the injured employee. The possible direct consequences range from loss of productivity and costs for replacement staff, increased accident insurance premiums, to fines and penalties for violations of occupational health and safety regulations. Added to this are indirect consequences such as loss of motivation among employees, protracted legal disputes and damage to the company's image.
A safe workplace and health protection are fundamental rights of your employees and, at the same time, an important part of a positive corporate culture. It is about the physical and mental well-being of your workforce, the working atmosphere, motivation and employer attractiveness.
A safe working environment leads to greater satisfaction and motivation, which has a positive effect on productivity. It contributes to employee retention and reduces staff turnover. In addition, you improve operational and business processes and benefit from economic advantages. As you can see, prevention pays off. Show your employees that safety is important to you.
To ensure occupational safety at all times, you need to consider numerous factors and take appropriate precautions. Safety at work is not a matter of chance, but the result of targeted measures. And as an employer or manager, you are responsible for providing a safe working environment. Occupational safety encompasses the prevention of work-related health hazards and accidents, as well as the humane design of the working environment. This includes identifying potential hazards and taking appropriate steps to minimise or, better still, eliminate them. The DGUV accident insurance organisation, company doctors and experts divide the topic into the areas of general occupational safety, technical occupational safety, medical occupational safety and social occupational safety.
The overarching goal is to protect and maintain the mental and physical health of all employees. But how do you go about this in concrete terms?
What constitutes health protection in individual cases depends on the specific hazards to which staff are exposed. In the construction and skilled trades sectors, protective clothing, safety helmets, safety harnesses, barriers, scaffolding inspections and secure storage of materials may be necessary. In the office environment, the focus is on ergonomic workstations, good lighting and break regulations. Industrial workplaces require protective clothing, special protective gloves, extraction devices and regular maintenance of machinery. Typical protective measures in the catering industry include hand and cut protection, compliance with hygiene regulations and the safe use of equipment.
Occupational safety
Occupational safety is the umbrella term for all measures, regulations and means used to ensure the safety and health of employees at work. Occupational safety encompasses both accident prevention and the prevention of work-related illnesses. The aim is always to prevent accidents at work and protect employees.
Work safety
Work safety focuses on the prevention of accidents in the workplace. The aim is to create safe working conditions in order to prevent injuries and fatalities in the course of work and thus fulfil the employer's legal obligation to ensure a safe workplace.
Health protection
Health protection aims to maintain and promote the health of employees. This includes measures to prevent occupational diseases, improve mental well-being and create ergonomic workplaces. The aim is to proactively identify and minimise health risks before they lead to illness.
Risk assessment
As part of a risk assessment, you must identify all hazards and risks to the safety of employees in the workplace. This includes a systematic analysis of all work areas to identify, evaluate and document individual hazards.
Health protection
Measures to prevent exposure to noise, vibrations, chemicals, heat, cold and psychological factors.
Technical protective measures
Consider, among other things, the ergonomic design of workstations, fire protection, protective devices on machines (such as safety bars and emergency stop switches), regular maintenance and safe work equipment.
Organisational measuresn
These are based on the results of the risk assessment and include the development of work instructions, regular training and instruction, the creation of emergency plans and a clear distribution of tasks.
Personal safety measures
Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes all items of equipment that are worn or held in the hand to protect the health and safety of employees at work from hazards as far as possible. This includes, for example, protective clothing, work and safety shoes, protective gloves, safety goggles, protective helmets and hearing protection. Your task is not only to provide personal protective equipment, but also to ensure that it is used correctly.
Who is responsible for safety in the workplace?
In principle, employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. This is enshrined in law and applies to all companies, regardless of their size or industry. The central basis for this is the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which describes the general principles and obligations. There are also other regulations, such as the Workplace Ordinance, the Industrial Safety Ordinance and regulations issued by the German Social Accident Insurance. Other legal regulations, such as the Maternity Protection Act, also require employers to take appropriate protective measures.
Why is the employer responsible? They have a legal duty of care towards their employees. This means that they must do everything possible to prevent accidents and illnesses in the workplace. They must have the necessary knowledge of occupational health and safety by law or consult appropriate specialists.
Who supports the employer in prevention? Health protection in the workplace is usually a team effort. In addition to the employer, managers are responsible for implementing occupational safety in their area. In larger companies, safety officers can support the employer and advise company doctors on health protection issues. The works council can also play a role.
And the employees? Employees are also responsible for their own safety. They are obliged to comply with safety regulations and to wear the protective equipment provided.
First aid in the workplace
It is part of the employer's duty of care to ensure that employees receive first aid after an accident at work. Fast and correct first aid can save lives and mitigate serious consequences in the event of accidents. Sufficiently trained first aiders must be available in the company. Depending on the size of the company, adequately equipped first aid kits must be available. In larger companies or for certain activities, a defibrillator is mandatory.
Safe storage of work equipment
The safe storage of hazardous substances such as chemicals and dangerous objects is extremely important in industry and commerce, for example.
Fire safety
Fire safety at work is also part of occupational health and safety and is therefore the responsibility of the employer. If there are deviations from building regulations or if the building is to be used for a special purpose, a fire safety plan must be drawn up. In many companies and workplaces, a fire safety officer and fire safety assistants are required. Don't forget fire extinguishers, fire blankets and rescue ladders.
Marking escape routes
Escape and rescue plans should be displayed at the workplace and in clearly visible locations in the company building – for example, in the entrance area, corridors and stairwells. These plans should show the locations of fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire hoses. You will need rescue signs and escape route signs as well as emergency lighting.