Prevention and aftercare
On July 6, 1884, the Accident Insurance Act (UVG) was promulgated in the Reich Law Gazette. It establishes statutory accident insurance as the second branch of German social insurance and creates the legal prerequisites for the establishment of the employers' liability insurance associations. In 1885, the first BGs are launched, 57 in total. The first BG ever was the Buchdrucker-Berufsgenossenschaft. Today, there are still nine BGs, organized by industry. The BGs are still the statutory accident insurance institutions in Germany. Their areas of responsibility are the prevention, rehabilitation and compensation of occupational diseases, accidents at work and accidents on the way to or from work (commuting accidents).
Compulsory membership
For companies in the logistics sector, BG Verkehr is the carrier of the statutory accident insurance. The protection of the statutory accident insurance applies to employees, civil servants as well as self-employed persons and entrepreneurs. The BGs are self-governing bodies under public law and are essentially financed by contributions from the companies assigned to them through compulsory membership. The insured do not pay any contribution. In principle, the companies are exempt from any liability towards their employees. In the event of occupational accidents or work-related illnesses, the insured persons concerned have no claims for compensation against the companies. They must turn to the employers' liability insurance association.
Support and assistance in the event of accidents
As with the other BGs, accidents at work, on duty and on the way to work, as well as occupational illnesses, are insured by BG Verkehr. If something happens, the person affected is entitled to support from the BG. This ranges from special medical examinations to the provision of BG pensions if health cannot be fully restored. It is important to note that the accident report must always come from the company itself. And the number of such reportable accidents is considerable. In 2020, the number of occupational accidents reported to BG Verkehr alone was around 65,700, plus 6,232 accidents on the way to work. Across Germany, all BGs together recorded around 640,000 reportable occupational accidents in 2020.
Success through prevention
It should be noted that the above-mentioned figures are characterized by a decrease compared to previous years. And it is precisely this that is possibly primarily due to a very important field of activity of all BGs. Prevention, i.e. precautionary measures in areas where, for example, many accidents occur. BG Verkehr also supports its affiliated companies in the logistics sector with a wide range of preventive measures and services. This means, for example, that the companies are continuously and comprehensively advised and supported in all matters of preventive occupational safety. Or that the causes of accidents are investigated or technical work equipment is tested in detail. The companies' employees also receive information and incentives on how to get through the "logistics world" safely and healthily: Often enough, it is the little things that have a big impact later on.
Close cooperation
In all their efforts to improve safety, BG specialists work closely with suppliers and manufacturers in the logistics sector. A close exchange of information is part of everyday life. Whether systems, work equipment and the correct handling of these things are working is checked directly by the BG, especially at the member companies. For example, whether the Edscha TS hood is technically okay, how it is handled, errors are analyzed, and work processes or work sequences are meticulously checked. This also applies to maintenance and care. Is everything correctly fitted and replaced, have the inspection periods been observed? All this for the safety of the company. Last but not least, the BG has a certain "guideline competence", i.e. it can prescribe or modify certain work processes.
Learn more
More information, especially on the services provided by BG Verkehr, which is responsible for the logistics sector, can be found on the Internet at www.bg-verkehr.de. Information can also be obtained by calling the central service number +49 40 3980-1010. If you have questions on specific topics or require advice on individual cases, you will be connected to the relevant experts.
