The BGV A 1 accident-prevention regulation, the foundation stone of the modernised body of BG regulations, which are based on protection objectives, has been in force since 1 January 2004. By largely doing away with very specific provisions of the type used in its predecessor, "General regulations" (VBG 1), the regulation leaves scope for interpretation. The BG Rule on "Prevention principles" (BGR A 1) now offers examples of how the regulation could be interpreted in line with workplace needs. BGR A 1 was adopted by the Prevention Principles committee of the HVBG (German Federation of Institutions for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention) on 31 August 2005, having been reviewed by all of the "BGs" (institutions responsible for statutory accident insurance and prevention), the then Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA), LASI (the Joint Committee of State Labour Inspection Services) and the social partners in a commenting procedure, headed by the BGZ (BG Central Office for Health and Safety at Work).
BGR A 1 has a structure based on that of BGV A 1 and fleshes out the latter’s requirements by adding more detail. In particular, it provides explanations and illustrative, workplace-related examples of terms used in BGV A 1 (e.g. "special hazard") and indeterminate legal terminology. All of the key terms used in the BG Rule are defined in a glossary annex. Sample forms are provided for documenting training, confirming that employers? duties have been transferred to another party and for appointing safety officers. BGR A 1 gives the user the necessary basic information to be able to fulfil the OSH duties which BGV A 1 requires of the employer. That information also includes an annex with extracts from the governmental OSH regulations referred to in BGV A 1.
BGR A 1, "Prevention principles" (only available in german), can be downloaded in PDF format (663 KB).
