Occupational safety glossary for Germany
57 terms from German occupational health and safety explained briefly – from the Occupational Safety and Health Act to commuting accidents, with legal basis and links to the matching guides and templates.
- Short definition in two sentences
- With legal references
- Links to guides and templates
A2 terms
Accident report (Unfallanzeige)
The accident report is the notification of a workplace or commuting accident to the employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund. It is mandatory if the insured person dies or is unable to work for more than three days – within three days of the employer learning of it.
Read the explanationASR (Technical Rules for Workplaces)
The ASR specify the German Workplaces Ordinance with measurable requirements – for example illuminance (ASR A3.4), room temperatures (ASR A3.5), escape routes (ASR A2.3), fire safety (ASR A2.2) and safety signs (ASR A1.3).
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B1 term
C3 terms
Commuting accident (Wegeunfall)
A commuting accident is an accident on the direct route between home and workplace. Like an occupational accident, it is covered by statutory accident insurance in Germany (Section 8 (2) SGB VII).
Read the explanationCompany doctor (Betriebsarzt)
Company doctors advise the employer on occupational medicine, carry out occupational health checks and contribute to the risk assessment, workplace design and return-to-work management. Appointing one is mandatory in Germany under the Occupational Safety Act.
Read the explanationContractor management (Fremdfirmenmanagement)
Contractor management refers to organising occupational safety when employees of several employers work at one site – such as maintenance companies, cleaning services or construction firms on your premises. The employers must cooperate, coordinate on hazards and brief employees (Section 8 of the German Occupational Safety and Health Act).
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D6 terms
Delegation of duties (Pflichtenübertragung)
Delegation of duties is the written transfer of the employer's occupational safety duties to reliable and competent persons, such as plant managers or foremen (Section 13 (2) of the German Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 13 DGUV Regulation 1). Overall responsibility and the duty to monitor remain with the employer.
Read the explanationDGUV (German Social Accident Insurance)
The DGUV is the umbrella association of the German employers' liability insurance associations and public accident insurance funds. It publishes accident prevention regulations (DGUV Regulations), rules and information that are binding for insured companies or serve as the state of the art.
Read the explanationDGUV Regulation 1 “Principles of prevention”
DGUV Regulation 1 is the basic accident prevention regulation in Germany. It specifies the employer's duties from the accident insurance perspective – including safety instruction, delegation of duties, safety representatives, first aid and personal protective equipment.
Read the explanationDGUV Regulation 2 “Company doctors and occupational safety specialists”
DGUV Regulation 2 defines the extent to which companies must be supported by company doctors and occupational safety specialists – with service hours depending on the support group or the alternative support model for small businesses.
Read the explanationDGUV Regulation 3 “Electrical installations and equipment”
DGUV Regulation 3 requires companies to have electrical installations and equipment tested by qualified electricians – before first use, after modifications and at regular intervals. Guideline for portable devices: every 6 months, in offices up to 2 years.
Read the explanationDisplay screen workstation (Bildschirmarbeitsplatz)
A display screen workstation is a workplace with display screen equipment at which employees do a not insignificant part of their work. The ergonomic requirements of Annex 6 of the German Workplaces Ordinance apply to screen, keyboard, desk, chair, lighting and software.
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E3 terms
Employer model (Unternehmermodell)
The employer model is the alternative needs-based occupational health and safety support under DGUV Regulation 2 for companies with up to 50 employees: the employer attends training and only calls in the occupational safety specialist and company doctor when needed. Whether the model is offered is decided by the accident insurance institution.
Read the explanationEscape and rescue plan (Flucht- und Rettungsplan)
The escape and rescue plan is the graphic notice showing a building's escape routes, emergency exits, assembly points, fire extinguishers and first aid facilities. It is required under the German Workplaces Ordinance if the location, size or use of the workplace makes it necessary.
Read the explanationExplosion protection document (Explosionsschutzdokument)
The explosion protection document is the special documentation of the risk assessment for companies in which explosive atmospheres can occur. It sets out explosion hazards, zoning and protective measures and is mandatory under Section 6 (9) of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance.
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F3 terms
Fire warden (Brandschutzhelfer)
Fire wardens are employees trained in the use of fire extinguishers who fight incipient fires, support evacuation and brief the fire brigade in the event of a fire. Guideline under ASR A2.2: 5 per cent of employees, more where there is an increased fire risk.
Read the explanationFirst aid log (Verbandbuch)
The first aid log documents all first aid given in the company with date, time, injured person, what happened, injury, measures, first aider and witnesses. It is mandatory under Section 24 (6) of DGUV Regulation 1 and must be kept for five years.
Read the explanationFirst aider (Ersthelfer)
Workplace first aiders are employees trained in first aid who help with accidents and emergencies at work. In Germany, one first aider is required for 2 to 20 insured persons present; above that, 5 per cent in administrative and retail businesses and 10 per cent in other businesses.
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G1 term
H5 terms
H and P statements
H statements (hazard statements) describe the hazards of a substance, for example “H315 Causes skin irritation”. P statements (precautionary statements) name safety measures, for example “P280 Wear protective gloves”. Both appear on the label and in the safety data sheet.
Read the explanationHazard factors (Gefährdungsfaktoren)
Hazard factors are the eleven groups into which hazards are divided in the risk assessment – from mechanical hazards to mental factors. They serve as a checklist so that nothing is overlooked.
Read the explanationHazardous substance (Gefahrstoff)
Hazardous substances are substances, mixtures and articles that have hazardous properties – such as flammable, corrosive, toxic, carcinogenic or hazardous to the environment – or from which such substances are released during use. The definition is in Section 2 of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance.
Read the explanationHazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV)
The Hazardous Substances Ordinance governs the protection of employees in Germany when working with hazardous substances: gathering information, risk assessment, substitution, protective measures, hazardous substances register, operating instructions and safety instruction.
Read the explanationHazardous substances register (Gefahrstoffverzeichnis)
The hazardous substances register is the list of all hazardous substances used in the company with name, classification, quantity range, work areas and reference to the safety data sheet. It is mandatory under Section 6 (12) of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance and must be accessible to employees.
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I2 terms
Inspection interval (Prüffrist)
The inspection interval is the period after which work equipment must be inspected again. The employer sets it in the risk assessment (Section 3 (6) of the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health); regulations and rules give guideline values, such as 12 months for ladders and shelving or 6 months for portable electrical devices.
Read the explanationInspection sticker (Prüfplakette)
The inspection sticker is the label on the work equipment that shows the passed inspection and the next inspection date. It is a hint for users but not proof – the proof is the inspection report with result, inspector and date.
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M1 term
N2 terms
Near miss (Beinaheunfall)
A near miss is an event that could have led to an accident but in which nobody was injured – such as a falling load that lands just next to a person. Near misses are valuable indications of hazards before something happens.
Read the explanationNoise area (Lärmbereich)
A noise area is a work area in which the daily noise exposure level reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) or the peak sound pressure level reaches or exceeds 137 dB(C). It must be marked, and hearing protection is mandatory there.
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O12 terms
Occupational accident (Arbeitsunfall)
An occupational accident is a time-limited event acting from outside that leads to damage to health or death during insured work (Section 8 SGB VII). Commuting and certain activities in the home office are also insured.
Read the explanationOccupational disease (Berufskrankheit)
An occupational disease is an illness caused by work that is included in the list of occupational diseases – such as noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, asbestosis or certain back conditions. Like an occupational accident, it is compensated by statutory accident insurance.
Read the explanationOccupational exposure limit (AGW)
The occupational exposure limit is the concentration of a substance in the workplace air at which, in general, no acute or chronic damage to health is to be expected – based on eight hours a day and 40 hours a week. In Germany, the values are listed in TRGS 900.
Read the explanationOccupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) and ISO 45001
An occupational health and safety management system is the systematic, documented organisation of occupational safety in a company, with objectives, responsibilities, processes and continuous improvement. The international standard is ISO 45001; German employers' liability insurance associations offer an assessment called “Sicher mit System”.
Read the explanationOccupational Safety Act (ASiG)
The Occupational Safety Act requires employers in Germany to appoint company doctors and occupational safety specialists, and governs their tasks and the occupational safety committee.
Read the explanationOccupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG)
The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the basic law of workplace safety in Germany. It requires employers to assess hazards, take protective measures, instruct employees and organise occupational safety.
Read the explanationOccupational safety committee (Arbeitsschutzausschuss, ASA)
The occupational safety committee is the body in which the employer, works council, company doctor, occupational safety specialist and safety representatives discuss occupational safety matters at least quarterly. It is mandatory from more than 20 employees (Section 11 of the Occupational Safety Act).
Read the explanationOccupational safety software (EHS software)
Occupational safety software – also called EHS software (environment, health, safety) – brings the duties of occupational safety together in one system: risk assessments, operating instructions, safety instruction, inspection intervals, inspections, hazardous substances, measures and records, usually as a web application with a mobile app.
Read the explanationOccupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit, Sifa)
The occupational safety specialist advises and supports the employer in all matters of occupational safety. Every employer in Germany must appoint a Sifa in writing – internal or external – under the Occupational Safety Act and DGUV Regulation 2.
Read the explanationOperating instructions (Betriebsanweisung)
Operating instructions are written, workplace-specific instructions from the employer that summarise the hazards, protective measures, behaviour in an emergency, first aid and disposal for an activity, a hazardous substance or an item of work equipment in plain language.
Read the explanationOrdinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV)
The Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health governs the safe provision and use of work equipment in Germany – from ladders to production plants – including the risk assessment, inspections and inspection intervals.
Read the explanationOrdinance on Occupational Health Care (ArbMedVV)
The ArbMedVV sets out for which activities employers in Germany must arrange occupational health checks (mandatory health care), offer them (offered health care) or allow them on request (requested health care).
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P2 terms
Person qualified to carry out inspections (befähigte Person)
A person qualified to carry out inspections has the specialist knowledge required to inspect a particular item of work equipment through vocational training, professional experience and recent professional activity (Section 2 (6) of the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health, TRBS 1203). The term replaced the former “Sachkundiger” (competent person).
Read the explanationPersonal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment is any equipment employees wear or hold to protect themselves against hazards – helmet, safety glasses, hearing protection, respiratory protection, gloves, safety shoes, protective clothing or fall protection. The employer provides it free of charge, and employees must use it.
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Q1 term
R1 term
S7 terms
Safety data sheet (SDS)
The safety data sheet is the 16-section document supplied by the supplier that describes the hazards, composition, protective measures, first aid, storage and disposal of a hazardous substance or mixture. It is regulated in Article 31 of the REACH Regulation.
Read the explanationSafety instruction (Unterweisung)
Safety instruction is the workplace-specific briefing of employees on hazards and protective measures. In Germany, it is mandatory before starting work, when things change and at least once a year, and it must be documented.
Read the explanationSafety representative (Sicherheitsbeauftragte)
Safety representatives are employees who support the employer with accident prevention on a voluntary basis alongside their regular work: they keep an eye on protective devices and PPE, report defects and are a point of contact for colleagues. Mandatory from 50 regular employees, from more than 20 if there are particular hazards.
Read the explanationSafety signs (Sicherheitskennzeichnung)
Safety signs comprise prohibition, mandatory, warning, emergency and fire safety signs that identify hazards, duties and escape routes at the workplace. Shape and colour are defined in ASR A1.3 and DIN EN ISO 7010.
Read the explanationSTOP principle
The STOP principle sets the order of protective measures: substitution before technical, technical before organisational and organisational before personal measures. It follows from Section 4 of the German Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Read the explanationStorage class (Lagerklasse, LGK)
The storage class groups hazardous substances according to their hazardous properties, which determines which substances may be stored together and which must be kept apart. The basis in Germany is TRGS 510.
Read the explanationSubstitution assessment (Substitutionsprüfung)
The substitution assessment is the employer's duty to check whether a hazardous substance or process can be replaced by a less hazardous substance or process (Section 6 (1) No. 4 and Section 7 of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance). The result must be documented.
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T3 terms
Telework, home office and mobile working
Telework stations are display screen workstations permanently set up by the employer in the employee's private area with an agreed duration and working hours (Section 2 (7) of the German Workplaces Ordinance). Mobile working is work from changing locations without a fixed workstation. “Home office” is not a legal term and means one or the other depending on the arrangement.
Read the explanationTRBS (Technical Rules for Operational Safety)
The TRBS specify the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health for work equipment and installations subject to monitoring – including the risk assessment (TRBS 1111), inspections (TRBS 1201) and persons qualified to carry out inspections (TRBS 1203).
Read the explanationTRGS (Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances)
The TRGS specify the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance and reflect the state of the art in technology, occupational medicine and hygiene. Anyone who follows them can assume they meet the requirements of the ordinance (presumption of conformity).
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W2 terms
Work equipment (Arbeitsmittel)
Work equipment means tools, devices, machines and installations used at work – from ladders to forklifts to production plants. It is subject to the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health with its risk assessment, instruction and inspection duties.
Read the explanationWorkplaces Ordinance (ArbStättV)
The Workplaces Ordinance governs how workplaces in Germany must be set up and operated: rooms, traffic routes, escape and rescue routes, lighting, indoor climate, sanitary facilities and break rooms, as well as display screen workstations and telework stations.
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From term to practice
The guides explain step by step what to do; the templates provide the forms. AMS Go brings everything into one system with reminders and records.
