Statutory accident insurance remains probably the least known branch of the German social security system,
despite the fact that the insurance institutions for trade and industry alone (the "Berufsgenossenschaften")
insure 43 million workers and three million companies. Statutory accident insurance has existed in Germany for
more than 100 years. It dates back to Imperial Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who in the late nineteenth century
developed comprehensive social welfare legislation. Up until that point compensation for an occupational accident
had to be claimed from the employer directly. But ever since then, as far as trade and industry are concerned,
this has been the jurisdiction of the Berufsgenossenschaften – or institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention.
The insurance cover is financed via proportionate contributions from employers and employees. The statutory accident
insurance constitutes an exception: here contributions are paid by the employers only as the Berufsgenossenschaften
accept liability for the companies' risks.
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