National Occupational Safety and Health Conference (NOSHC)

The "National Occupational Safety and Health Conference" was established as the decision-making body for the planning, co-ordination and evaluation of the measures provided for the implementation of the Joint German OSH Strategy by means of the German Accident Insurance Modernisation Law (UVMG) which came into force on 5 November 2008.

It develops concrete, joint occupational safety and health objectives and fields of action and derives from them joint fields of action and parameters for work and action programmes in agreement with those involved. The programmes are each established for a period of up to five years.

The Conference comprises three representatives each from the German government, the occupational safety and health authorities of the federal states and the umbrella associations of the statutory accident insurance system. It receives advice from three representatives each from the top organisations of the employers and workers. The chair of the NOSHC alternates every year between the government, the federal states and the accident insurance institutions. In 2009, the chair was held by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and in 2010, it was held by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). In 2011 the federal states have the chairmanship of the NOSHC.

With the foundation of the NOSHC the previous LASI/UVT/BMAS top-level talk in which the supreme occupational safety and health authorities of the federal states, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the social accident insurance agreed on fundamental issues of German occupational safety and health, was integrated into the new co-operation structure.

The set-up of the National Occupational Safety and Health Conference and the NOSHC office and the Occupational Safety and Health Forum, their tasks and fundamental work methods are regulated in the German Occupational Safety and Health Act. Details of the organisation of the National Occupational Safety and Health Conference are laid down in rules of procedure.

You will find the present composition of the NOSHC on the German website.