The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) is a senior scientific authority which operates under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). As a major federal governmental research institution it advises its target groups - and in particular the federal government - in all matters of safety and health at work and the humane design of working conditions. As a federal institution with R&D functions, the Federal Institute operates at the interface between science and policy-making and renders transfer services from the science system into policy, company practice and society. The BAuA's tasks, alongside its R&D activities, range from policy advice, the performance of sovereign functions and transfer into company practice, through to the educational and informative work of the DASA. For research and development activities the BAuA updates its own R&D programme, which specifies in greater detail the focal areas outlined in the present document. Tasks relating to direct policy advice are dealt with in addition in a joint objectives agreement with the BMAS.

The aim of the BAuA is to occupy a position as opinion former and co-ordinator in the field of research and action in safety and health at work and it is committed to certain basic principles. Alongside scientific expertise, these are neutrality, independence and continuity in dealing with long-term questions. When dealing with various target groups the effort to find need-related solutions and the networking of national and international parties play a major role. At European level the BAuA supports the strategic approaches of the European Union, such as the New Social Policy Agenda and the Community Strategy on Safety and Health at Work, especially with view to emerging risks.

The present working programme describes the BAuA's focal activities for the period 2010 to 2013.