BAuA’s research in Field of Action B, ensuring safety in use and usability
Products, chemicals, and work equipment that are placed on the market have to be designed to be safe to use and useable from the outset. With the scientifically founded assessments of their physical, chemical, and biological impacts it carries out, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) lays the foundations for effective protective measures and safe use in practice. Its findings are fed continually into regulatory, policy advice, and practice transfer activities, thus supporting manufacturers and distributors as they seek to implement the EU’s Safe and Sustainable by Design principles.
Chemical safety
BAuA contributes to chemical safety in Germany and Europe by coordinating the regulation of chemical substances, their assessment, and the provision of advice about them. In this respect, the Federal Office for Chemicals (BfC) functions as the central point of contact for German industry, policymakers, and public-sector bodies, ensuring regulatory projects are scientifically sound, practical, and implemented comprehensibly.
Everything revolves around safe, sustainable solutions, from the development of European assessment standards to new risk assessment methodologies and the identification and regulation of substance groups of particular concern such as PFAS or bisphenols. With its research work, methodological integration, and international networking, BAuA improves the quality of data and the foundations for assessments, facilitating efficient authorisation procedures, clear classifications, and the responsible handling of chemicals in practice.
Research projects
Safer work with biological agents and hazardous substances
BAuA endeavours to strengthen the risk assessment of activities with biological agents and hazardous substances, among other things by developing non-quantitative methods such as the Easy-to-use Workplace Control Scheme for Hazardous Substances (Einfaches Maßnahmenkonzept Gefahrstoffe, EMKG), which is particularly helpful for small businesses. Indeed, the scheme’s extension to cover biological agents will also be considered in future. The German risk concept for carcinogenic hazardous substances that has been in force since 2024 and the EU Roadmap on Carcinogens are intended to improve protection against carcinogenic substances. In parallel, modern in-vitro und omics methods are being further developed to assess biological agents’ toxic effects more accurately so the system for their classification can be placed on a firmer footing.
BAuA is making efforts to develop and validate measurement methods for the detection of chemical substances, critical fibres, and biological materials and will integrate them into national and European standards. On account of the continuing high levels of exposure to asbestos, tighter national and European limit values will be implemented, an area in which BAuA is providing technical support to the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, BMAS). Furthermore, the DASA Working World Exhibition displays on hazardous substances will be updated to communicate information about risks and sustainable working methods in modern, generally understandable ways.
Research projects
Product and machinery safety
BAuA is investigating how artificial intelligence (AI) can support efforts to identify hazardous products more rapidly despite the growing diversity of products on the market, for which purpose it is trialling prototype tools designed to analyse large, poorly structured volumes of data. At the same time, it is researching the correlations between functional safety and IT security in relation to digitally interconnected products, which will allow the risks of external attacks to be assessed more effectively. BAuA is developing methods for the industrial deployment of high-risk AI that take account of robustness, reliability, and the requirements of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and the EU Machinery Regulation. In collaboration with partners from workplace practice and research, relevant data sets are being compiled that will also be made available to the scientific community. Furthermore, BAuA is working to flesh out new legal requirements and translate them into standards so that businesses, manufacturers, and employees can use AI and modern machine technology in safe, trustworthy ways.
Research projects
Useable products and work equipment
BAuA seeks to ensure products and work equipment are designed ergonomically, safely, and useably. With this in mind, complex anthropometric data are being gathered, analysed, and visualised in order to gear the design of working environments and products towards human needs. In the context of digitalisation, BAuA is investigating the use of algorithmic management and generative AI, assessing risks connected with safety, transparency, and explainability, and developing procedures that will allow systemic risks to be minimised and opportunities safely exploited. Apart from this, BAuA is promoting the inclusive design of products and supporting manufacturers in the implementation of statutory accessibility requirements.
Research projects