Current consultancy projects

Travelling exhibition on the subject of "Violence in schools"

Verbal abuse, shoving, hitting, pushing, insults: violence has many faces. The travelling exhibition on the subject of violence in schools takes up this issue. By means of multimedia, schoolchildren, teaching personnel and interested visitors are confronted directly with the subject of violence. The exhibition also shows the different forms which violence may take; how frequently it occurs in schools; the factors influencing violent behaviour; and the specific measures which may be helpful for the avoidance of violent offences. The exhibition was held for the first time from 10 to 14 February 2009 at the didacta education fair in Hannover. It is now being held in schools in other public institutions throughout Germany.

Sector-specific training on workplace violence

Attacks by non-company persons on transport personnel constitute significant hazards which may lead to occupational accidents. Statistics show that one occupational accident in ten reported to the BG BAHNEN, the BG responsible for the railway sector, is attributable to attacks perpetrated by passengers. As part of the iga - Initiative Health and Work, the IAG has developed a sector-specific disseminator training course dealing with the prevention of workplace violence. The course equips disseminators to train their personnel in preventive measures for the early detection and avoidance of violence. The development is currently supported by the IAG by means of a computer-based training course.

Support in the identification of workplace requirements

Where individuals are re-integrated into working life following an accident or a longer period of illness, the workplace must frequently be adapted or modified. It is advantageous in such cases to identify first what requirements the workplace imposes upon the employee, in order then to permit assessment of whether the latter is able to satisfy them. A checklist has been developed at the IAG for the identification of requirements imposed by a workplace.

Development of targets in prevention

Do you wish to develop prevention targets for your sector? Do you wish to select the topic for your next campaign and to define the targets which it is to attain?
If so, you can follow the procedure which has been developed within the IGA Initiative Health and Work. It combines the analysis of statistical data with discussions with experts. We will be happy to provide supervision of the method and to support you in preparing and managing the process of target development.

Optimum lighting of workplaces

In response to a request by enterprises in the chemical and electrical industry and in consultation with the BGs responsible for these industries, we studied the lighting in a number of production areas. The measurement reports and the proposals for improvement derived from them constituted a sound basis by which the companies could modernize their lighting installations, particularly with new luminaires and lamps for increasing the illuminance whilst at the same time avoiding direct and reflective glare. Appropriate colour schemes for the rooms also contribute to improving distribution of the light. The information on better exploitation of daylight for the illumination of workplaces can be used during the planning of new buildings.
We will also be pleased to advise you in the evaluation and optimization of lighting with reference to the current rules and regulations.

Exploiting European good practice in occupational safety and health

Are you interested in learning how in other countries, awareness is raised, even among children, for risks in their environment and at work? About the methods by which young people can be motivated to accept responsibility for their health and safety? How the health and safety behaviour of adults can be changed effectively? Examples from Europe and elsewhere can be found on the website of the European Network Education and Training in Occupational Safety and Health (ENETOSH), which is co-ordinated by the IAG Institute for Work and Health.

Evaluation of the Healthy Skin Campaign

Evaluation of the Healthy Skin Campaign was co-ordinated by the IAG. The project, which has been conducted jointly by statutory accident and health insurance institutions, has the motto: "Your skin. The most important 2m² in your life", and has campaigned for healthy skin and fewer cases of skin disease. Evaluation included a representative telephone survey of the wider population, a media analysis for recording of the press response and media activities, and evaluation of the internal processes.

Design of machinery with regard to psychological aspects

The results of the research project entitled "Bypassing of protective devices on machinery" are to be exploited sustainably. Together with the BG responsible for the metalworking industry in North/South Germany, we are developing tools which can be used by experienced designers to optimize the safety and operating concepts of machinery. The focus of this work lies upon the operator's behaviour and the corresponding psychological aspects.

Evaluation of the employer model

The IAG evaluates the implementation of regulations and guidelines, such as the new versions of the BGV A2 accident prevention regulation concerning occupational physicians and OSH professionals. In the majority of BGs, small and very small enterprises may choose between regular supervision, without fixed deployment times of the safety professional and occupational physician, and an alternative form of supervision. In the alternative form, the employer himself acquires the necessary OSH expertise through further training. The study, which has been conducted in a number of BGs and is ongoing, examines whether the quality of the alternative form of supervision equates to the level of occupational safety and health of the standard form.