The protection of occupational safety and health in Germany is a system of "dualism" that is there is a series of federal and state laws, ordinances and regulations at the federal and state levels which establish standards and responsibilities of employers and employees at work as well as an "automomous health and safety system of the accident insurance funds (the UVT) whose maintains the responsibility (through compulsory membership) to maintain insurance coverage and establish worksite prevention programs.

The basic laws covering occupational safety and health in Germany are:

• The Occupational Safety Act - Most recently enacted in 1996 entitled, Act to implement the EU Guidelines on Occupational safety and additional Occupational Safety Guidelines


• The Act on Safety and Health at Work and


• Part VII of the Social Code concerning statutory occupational accident insurance.

In addition, workplaces in Germany are subject to the Law on Company Doctors, Safety Engineers and other Industrial Safety Advisors, last amended on December 19, 1998 which can be found at:

There are numerous ordinances and regulations which cover mining including:

• Ordinance of 31 July 1991 on the health protection of mineworkers.
  Covering: medical examinations, dangerous substances, noise and vibration control

Like the entire European Union, Germany part of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bibao, Spain. German participation in this research and information exchange program is through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and includes: the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Central Federation of Industrial Accident Insurance Funds, and the Land Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.