Technical occupational safety and health (OSH) covers all areas that affect employees' safety at work.
In Germany, the principles of OSH are anchored in and shaped by numerous laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations in order to ensure the safety and health of employees at work.
The Safety and Health at Work Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz, ArbSchG) governs the employer's fundamental safety and health obligations, the obligations and rights of employees, and OSH monitoring for all fields of work activity. Its provisions are translated into concrete terms by a range of OSH ordinances, which can be supplemented and concretised by the technical and occupational medical rules.
In consultation with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, BMAS), the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) participates in national, European, and international committees in the setting of rules, regulations, and standards.