December 2016 / January 2017
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Further developing occupational disease law: For more than 90 years, people suffering an occupational disease have been compensated by statutory accident insurance. Representatives of both employers and employees have now put together a joint proposal for modernising the law and making it more transparent.
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Interview: The Self-government Committee of the German social accident insurance institutions has proposed that the German legislature further develop German occupational disease law. DGUV Kompakt spoke with DGUV Chairmen Dr Rainhardt von Leoprechting (representing employers) and Manfred Wirsch (representing employees) about the proposed changes and the background behind them.
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Starting 1 January 2017, the German Social Accident Insurance Institution of the Federal Government and for the railway services (UVB) has a new area of responsibility. As part of a four-year pilot project, the UVB will take on the majority of accident insurance duties for federal civil servants and judges in certain parts of the federal administration.
November 2016
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In the publication “Human in focus: priorities for OSH of tomorrow”, the IFA presented the top 10 prevention issues for the future world of work.
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Interview: Since 1993, the Brussels representative office of the German Social Insurance (DSV) has been monitoring and engaging with European processes and political events directly at the front line. DGUV Kompakt spoke with long-term Director of the European Representation of the DSV, Dr Franz Terwey.
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The Rehabilitation International World Congress took place in Edinburgh from 25 to 27 October. The topic of the Congress was “Create a more inclusive world”. The DGUV is an active player in the field of rehabilitation well beyond Germany’s borders and participates in the exchange.
October 2016
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Many employees in Germany work more hours in a normal working week than is stipulated by their regular working hours. This is the finding of the Working Time Report Germany 2016 published by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) on 10 October. The BAuA report provides an extensive overview of working hours.
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Interview: In September 2016, the new five-year advisory period of the Medical Advisory Committee for Occupational Diseases (ÄSVB) commenced. DGUV Kompakt spoke with Professor Ernst Hallier about the work done by the Committee and the newly recommended occupational diseases.
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The German Occupational Diseases List is found in the German Occupational Diseases Ordinance (BKV). There are currently 77 diseases on the list. In individual cases, if a disease is not included on the list, it can be officially recognised “like an occupational disease”.
September 2016
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It was exactly 20 years ago that the Occupational Safety Act (ArbSchG) entered into force. The Act has set new standards, particularly with the introduction of the risk assessment. Since then, holistic and preventive approaches have become even more important in OSH.
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Interview: DGUV Kompakt spoke with Thomas Wittschurky, Managing Director of the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the fire services in Lower Saxony, about a new research project being conducted by the German social accident insurance to investigate whether there are gaps in prevention at fire-fighting operations and how to close them.
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The process for submitting payroll statements to the statutory accident insurance is being switched to a digital process as of 1 December 2016. Following a transition period, payroll statements will be completely digital as of 2019.
July/August 2016
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The social dimension of the European Union (EU) is at the top of the political agenda of the EU Commission. The aim is to achieve a “Triple A” for social topics. On 8 March 2016, a first draft was presented. Interested parties can comment on the draft as part of a public consultation that runs until the end of 2016.
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Interview: A new study conducted by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA) regards which occupations are more effected by UV exposure. DGUV Kompakt spoke with Dr Walter Eichendorf about the results and their importance for prevention.
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Legislation concerning occupational diseases needs to be further developed. A corresponding resolution was passed by the Members’ Meeting of the DGUV in June 2016. In the resolution, representatives from employers and employees committed themselves to adopt a tangible concept at the DGUV Members’ Meeting at the end of November.
June 2016
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Canada is already an important partner for Europe. Conversely, the European Union (EU) is Canada’s second largest trading partner after the USA. The aim of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is to strengthen trade between Canada and the EU. However, like the other free trade agreements currently being planned CETA must not have a negative impact on social security, occupational safety and health, environmental protection or education.
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Interview: On “Self-Government Day” on 11 May, the ver.di union chose to highlight statutory accident insurance under the motto “In Good Hands”. DGUV Kompakt spoke with ver.di Federal Board Member Eva M. Welskop-Deffaa about the social election and the system of self-government.
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How satisfied are clients with the DGUV’s rehabilitation management? This was the key question of a two-year survey of insured members. Initial results are now available. They clearly show that the effort put into rehabilitation management by the accident insurance institutions has been worthwhile.
April/May 2016
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Occupational safety and health has taken on an increasingly important role for Bangladeshi industry. There are plans to establish a statutory accident insurance system. Germany has been supporting Bangladesh in its endeavours since 2010. In April 2016, a delegation from Bangladesh visited Germany for a second time.
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Interview: DGUV Kompakt spoke with Markus Hofmann, Head of the Social-Politics Division of the Federal Executive Board of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), about issues related to OSH and social security as well as future challenges in the world of work.
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Since 2004, companies have been required by law to offer workplace integration management to employees who have been ill for more than a total of six weeks in a given year. However, not all German companies know about this approach. The German Social Accident Insurance wants to better promote workplace integration management in companies and has initiated a project to run between 2016-2018.
March 2016
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The digitalisation of all areas of life has not only had an impact on manufacturing and service processes, but new forms of work and increasing flexibility have revolutionised everything we had previously thought about work. Everyone involved in occupational safety and health must, likewise, meet new requirements for prevention. How work has changed and what this means for occupational safety and health is the focus of the 4th International Strategy Conference on Safety and Health at Work 2016.
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Interview: The German social accident insurance deals intensively with the impact of changes in the world of work on employees, companies and even on social systems. DGUV Kompakt spoke with Dr Joachim Breuer about future challenges in terms of social security and how they can be addressed.
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Better common standards for security, consumer protection and data protection play an important role in the establishment of a Digital Single Market in the European Union. In this regard the EU Commission conducted a public consultation in which the Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardization (KAN) participated as well.
February 2016
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Safe and healthy workplaces not only benefit individual employees but also the performance of the economy and companies. On 12 January in Brussels, stakeholders discussed developments at the European level as well as future demands on science and politics.
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Interview: On 25 July 2015, new legislation to strengthen health promotion and prevention (The Prevention Act) came into effect. DGUV Kompakt spoke with Dr Walter Eichendorf about the impact of the new Prevention Act.
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In the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020, the EU Commission has identified future challenges (see DGUV Kompakt October 2015). As part of their proposals, the Commission carried out a public consultation which the DGUV participated in. The DGUV published a position paper for the consultation called "Prevention of the Future".
December 2015 / January 2016
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The Second Act to Strengthen Long-Term Care (PSG II) brings with it fundamental improvements to the social long-term care insurance system for those who require care, their relatives and nursing professionals.
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Interview: DGUV Kompakt spoke with the Managing Director of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), Karl-Sebastian Schulte, about issues relating to OSH and accident insurance as well as future challenges in the world of work.
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The new Green Paper “Work 4.0 – Thinking ahead about Work” published by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) in April 2015 has opened a dialogue for how we want to work in the future and what opportunities there are for companies, employees, social partners and politicians to design new ways of working.
