This unit's duties include providing statistical/biometric advice regarding the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (BAuA) research interests, and specifically in relation to the planning and analysis of experiments, laboratory tests and epidemiological studies, as well as the further development of statistical models in epidemiology.
Research and development activities currently focus on the following areas:
- planning and analysis of epidemiological studies for the estimation of work-related health risks;
- studies for the evaluation of prevention programmes;
- assessment of epidemiological studies from a methodological perspective;
- conducting meta-analyses for comprehensive risk assessment;
- the derivation of dose-effect relationships;
- providing mathematical and IT support for the planning, execution and evaluation of occupational health experiments.
Another focus lies on the analysis of data from the Wismut Health Data Archives on the multifactorial genesis of work-related diseases.
Unit 3.4 is in charge of the management of the Occupational Medicine Committee (AfAMed) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS).
Furthermore, the unit provides scientific support to the Medical Expert Advisory Committee on Occupational Diseases (Ärztlicher Sachverständigenbeirat "Berufskrankheiten", ÄSVB) at the BMAS, especially on epidemiological issues. The Scientific Office of the Medical Expert Advisory Committee on Occupational Diseases is currently being built up in Unit 3.4, where it has been based since 1 January 2021.