Safe driving and transporting – the topic of the 2010/2011 prevention campaign being run by the German statutory accident insurance institutions – is about more than just proper behaviour. The vehicles themselves must also be safe. Standards, and the requirements for properties formulated within them, are an important aspect in the prevention of accidents and health hazards in this area.

The use of modern construction machinery is substantially responsible for construction work becoming increasingly more productive and also more ergonomic. The frequently close proximity of human workers and machinery on construction sites is not without hazards, however. Poor visibility is one of the aspects which repeatedly lead to accidents. BG BAU1 is tackling the problem by means of new provisions in standards and by the “Fight the Risk” campaign.

Pedestrian-controlled industrial trucks are in everyday use in many companies. Accidents continue to occur, particularly when this heavy transport machinery is being manoeuvred. 50 percent of all accidents involve injuries to the feet. A newly developed bump strip for foot protection is able to prevent such accidents effectively. Should it prove equally effective in practice, it should be included in the relevant standards.

Traditional standards are not the only documents describing the state of the art, for example with regard to the safety of products; over 1,800 national guidelines of the VDI (Association of German Engineers) are approved codes of practice which also affect occupational safety and health. DIN standards and VDI guidelines differ however both in how they are created, and in their status. These differences have implications for occupational safety and health.

On 1 January 2010, the DAkkS1 assumed its functions. With the formation of this national accreditation body, Germany has met the European requirement for harmonization of the accreditation system. This step begins a new chapter in German accreditation, and focuses the many years of experience and competence of what were formerly 20 separate institutions within a new structure.

Among the preparations for its accession to the EU on 1 January 2007, Romania also adapted its occupational safety and health legislation to the European legislatory framework. Law 319/2006 on safety and health at work plays a key role in this context. It transposes the European OSH Framework Directive 89/391/EEC into Romanian law and governs the responsibilities of authorities, institutions and employers.