Organisation of OSH and Infection Control

Every employer has a duty to organise occupational safety and health (OSH) provision in the workplace. The aim is to ensure employees are protected against work-related health risks by taking suitable OSH measures.

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The experience of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic showed that organisations find themselves confronted with particular organisational challenges in the event of a pandemic. These challenges can vary widely depending on the size of the organisation and the tasks carried out by its employees.

Scientists at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) are investigating the kinds of organisational measures introduced during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At the same time they are also assessing which of those measures were particularly successful.

Furthermore, BAuA is looking at which of the changes made to workplaces in the course of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have become permanently established and what consequences they have resulted in for employees’ health and the organisation of workplace OSH services.

Apart from carrying out its own analyses, BAuA also collaborates with other research and scientific institutions that are exploring similar issues.

Research Projects

Project numberF 2513 StatusCompleted Project Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 OSH Measures

To the Project

Research completed

Project numberF 2514 StatusCompleted Project Establishments in the COVID 19 crisis (BeCovid Study)

To the Project

Research completed

Project numberF 2516 StatusCompleted Project Stigmatization associated with SARS-CoV-2 in the occupational setting: Summary of the state of knowledge and interview study

To the Project

Research completed

Project numberF 2541 StatusCompleted Project Interventions focusing on work organisation as a part of pandemic management in inpatient care services

To the Project

Research completed

Project numberF 2563 StatusOngoing Project Return to Work after and with Long COVID

To the Project

Research ongoing

Publications

Lernen aus der Pandemie für eine nachhaltige und menschengerechte Gestaltung von Arbeit

Publishing year: 2025

1. edition.  Dortmund:  Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin 2025. 

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Lessons Learned: How Different European Countries Addressed Occupational Health and Safety Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Publishing year: 2025

1. edition.  PEROSH 2025. 

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Lessons learnt in Germany from the COVID-19 pandemic from an occupational safety and health perspective

Written by:  S. Robelski, C. Schröder, S. Hopf
Publishing year: 2025

1. edition.  Dortmund:  Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin 2025. 

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Occupational safety and health in Germany during the Corona crisis

Written by:  S. Robelski, C. Steidelmüller, L. Pohlan
Publishing year: 2021

in: baua: Bericht kompakt 1. edition.  Dortmund:  Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin 2021. 

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More about Focus: Infection Control/OSH Interface