44 / 48
controlling function, then the safe and healthy design
of machines lies with the development department.
Well-functioning OSH must increasingly be done as
part of primary prevention in a cooperation between
product developers, network designers and produc-
tion planners. Only then can OSH effectively prevent
accidents and health hazards in a digitalised world of
work.
2
A risk assessment that only considers individual as-
pects is ineffective in the digital world of work. A holis-
tic risk assessment, on the other hand, considers all
relevant risk factors and their interactions. Thus, it is a
tool that allows companies to initiate a process of con-
tinuous improvement as well as develop and imple-
ment solutions that are company-specific and flexible.
3
Companies must not leave mobile and autonomous
workers on their own. According to the German Occu-
pational Safety Act, companies are responsible for the
safety and health of their employees. It is more im-
portant than ever, that management actively structure
framework conditions in such a way that they promote
safety and health at work.
4
Companies also have a responsibility to improve the
health literacy of their employees. This means en-
abling them, if necessary, to design healthy working
New Forms of Work
44