Introduction

In Germany, "occupational safety and health" is considered a broad concept, which covers prevention of occupational accidents, occupational diseases and work-related health risks. It includes measures to design work in a human-friendlier way, questions of working time (e.g. working on Sundays or public holidays) and protection of persons requiring a particularly high level of protection (e.g. young persons and pregnant women). Occupational safety and health does not include questions to do with employment (e.g. employment contracts) or payment (e.g. wage agreements). The following constitute fundamental legislation in the field of OSH:

• the "Arbeitsschutzgesetz" (Occupational Health and Safety Act)
• the "Arbeitssicherheitsgesetz" (Occupational Safety Act)
• the "Siebte Buch Sozialgesetzbuch" (Seventh Volume of the Code of Social Law), which deals with statutory accident insurance, and
• the "Gefahrstoffverordnung" (Ordinance on Dangerous Substances)