Safety and prevention

Risks and uncertainty/insecurity are essential characteristics of today’s society. Recent developments in the field of, inter alia, new technologies (digitisation, robotisation…), increasing economic and social competition, higher flexibility demands, new forms of employment et al. have a strong impact on the risk picture. So it is not surprising that in this context the social importance of safety and prevention in a broad sense has grown considerably.

Within the research line “Safety and prevention” we want to supply scientifically sound but also practically applicable solutions to improve the safety in undertakings and organisations as well as in society at large. As for the scientific soundness, this is seen to by collecting and broadening scientific knowledge. By broadening we mean examining aspects of both safety (such as well-being at work, quality and environment) and security (protection, social safety) on the one hand and approaching safety not only from a legal perspective but also in a multi- and/or interdisciplinary manner (e.g. from the perspective of behavioural and social sciences or technical disciplines) on the other. As for the practical applicability, this is seen to by offering undertakings and organisations, depending on their nature and size, instruments that allow them to develop a better and a more sustainable safety policy and culture, including building up fortitude and constructively dealing with risky conduct, accidents and incidents.

In this framework the following topics will be dealt with:

Research into the meaning and the importance of fundamental rights for various domains of safety. Is there a fundamental right to safety and to safe and healthy work? How does this right relate to other fundamental rights, such as the non-discrimination right, the right to privacy, right to work, right to consultation and negotiation;
Research into the competences, responsibilities and cooperation of the various stakeholders (such as employees, experts, civil-society organisations, authorities, citizens,…) involved in safety and prevention policies. Which competences and responsibilities should be accorded to the actors to improve the prevention and re-integration culture within undertakings/organisations and which guarantees and statutes are advisable/necessary to allow them to carry out their various competences and tasks regarding prevention and remedy optimally.
Research into the factors that are the most likely to determine and predict the safety culture and safety attitudes and this with the aim of developing instruments to evaluate and assess these factors as well as with the aim of formulating recommendations.
Research into the impact of new forms of employment on well-being at work. Which possibilities does the current legal set of instruments (including grounds for suspension, leave and holiday systems etc. in terms of labour law) contain vis-à-vis these new forms of employment with a view to improving the well-being of workers and which adaptations are necessary/advisable to give workers the best opportunities to achieve the maximal development of their abilities.
Research into the prospects for the further development of prevention in the social insurance schemes. To what extent does the idea of prevention and remedy have real chances to grow in a system that has been perceived from the very beginning as a curative and individualised system; and which legal conditions should be available to attain the optimal development of the idea of prevention and remedy in occupational risk insurance?
Research into the various aspects involved in handling environmental and technological risks, such as: risk management, challenges in the implementation of the Seveso-legislation (both from a technical point of view and at the level of stakeholder participation); establishing and maintaining a dialogue with regard to long-term safety projects (e.g. nuclear waste disposal); incident analysis;…
Research with regard to emergency planning and crisis management: crisis management and emergency planning by the authorities and in undertakings; decision procedures during crisis situations; the manner in which auxiliary/emergency services deal with fear and uncertainty during interventions; the specific challenges regarding emergency planning and crisis management in relation to public and industrial safety.
Research into new technologies developed and used within the safety domain (such as drones).
Research of security models, security culture and security awareness.

“Safety and prevention” is a new research line which is in full development. Over the next years the priorities will be specified further. In addition, the various (sub-)lines will be made more streamlined.