DGUV rules are technical recommendations for companies that help to prevent accidents at work, occupational illnesses and work-related health hazards. They provide practical guidance on how to implement the occupational health and safety requirements contained in laws, ordinances and regulations.
They explain which specific preventive measures can be used to fulfill the obligations to prevent accidents at work and occupational illnesses. The DGUV rules refer to specific activities, work areas and hazards.
DGUV Rule 112-139 is a specific regulation of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). It deals with the use of personal emergency signal systems for activities that take place when working alone and therefore out of call and sight of other people.
The most important facts in brief
✓ DGUV rules provide companies with practical guidance on the prevention of accidents at work, occupational illnesses and health hazards and help to implement statutory occupational health and safety requirements.
✓ DGUV Rule 112-139 regulates the use of personal emergency signal systems for dangerous lone working in order to ensure the timely initiation of rescue measures in an emergency.
✓ Although not legally binding, the DGUV rules are considered normative and are expected by the supervisory authorities and accident insurers, which in practice usually leads to binding application.
What are the provisions of DGUV Rule 112-139?
DGUV Rule 112-139 contains provisions on the monitoring of persons working alone during dangerous lone working in accordance with DIN V VDE V 0825-1 using personal emergency signal systems. It explains Section 10 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG), Section 4 (5) of the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV) and Section 8 and Section 25 of the accident prevention regulation "Principles of Prevention" (BGV/GUV-V A1).
It contains specifications for risk identification and risk assessment in connection with working alone, which serve as the basis for protective measures, as well as establishing requirements for personal emergency signal systems. This is intended to ensure that the necessary rescue measures are initiated at an early stage in the event of an emergency.
DGUV regulations also show ways in which occupational accidents, occupational illnesses and work-related health hazards can be avoided where no occupational safety or accident prevention regulations exist.
Who is DGUV Rule 112-139 aimed at?
Employer: In accordance with DGUV Regulation 1 "Principles of Prevention", the employer must ensure that the necessary help can be summoned immediately in the event of an emergency by means of alarm systems and organizational measures. This requirement also applies in particular to individual workplaces, where the employer must take appropriate monitoring measures depending on the risk. The rule is therefore primarily aimed at employers, who are responsible for implementing the provisions of the rule.
Employees: The rule also applies to lone workers who carry out hazardous work and who are also partially responsible for their own safety in the workplace. They are obliged to observe the requirements of the rule, comply with the safety regulations and actively contribute to the prevention of accidents at work and occupational illnesses. You can find out more about employees' duties to cooperate in our article What duties to cooperate do employees have under the Occupational Health and Safety Act?
Company doctors: The rule is also aimed at company doctors, as they play a central role in occupational health and safety and are responsible for assessing workplace hazards and advising on occupational health and safety.
Occupational safety specialists: Occupational safety specialists are addressed as experts in occupational safety, as they support companies in creating a safe and healthy working environment.
Is DGUV Rule 112-139 legally binding?
While the DGUV regulations are binding for the insured persons as autonomous law, DGUV rules merely serve as an aid in implementing the requirements of national and autonomous occupational health and safety law. They are therefore not enacted by law, but are based on statutory occupational health and safety regulations and are normative in nature.
The regulation refers to various legal bases, including Section 10 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 4 (5) of the Workplace Ordinance and Section 8 and Section 25 of the accident prevention regulation "Principles of Prevention" (BGV/GUV-V A1).
According to DGUV Regulation 1 "Principles of Prevention", the employer must ensure that the necessary help can be summoned immediately in the event of an emergency by means of reporting devices and organizational measures.
This is ensured either by a ban on working alone, the use of signalling devices or the implementation of organizational measures. DGUV Rule 112-139 therefore provides instructions for the proper implementation of the binding regulation "Principles of Prevention" (BGV/GUV-V A1).
For employers, compliance with the recommendations in DGUV Rule 112-139 means that they have taken suitable measures to prevent accidents at work, occupational illnesses and work-related health hazards. However, as the rule is not legally binding, employers have the option of finding other solutions in order to comply with the rule's recommendations and improve occupational health and safety.
Despite the normative nature of DGUV Rule 112-139, the responsible supervisory authorities and accident insurance companies expect compliance, which is why violations can be sanctioned if necessary. In practice, the rule is therefore generally regarded as binding in order to improve health and safety at work.
What is the significance of DGUV Rule 112-139 for occupational health and safety?
DGUV Regulation 112-139 aims to improve the safety of employees in companies and organizations by providing clear requirements and instructions for the use of personal emergency signal systems. The rule supports companies and organizations in implementing protective measures for employees who work outside of call and sight distance to other people. This applies in particular in potentially dangerous environments and situations.
Due to its high practical relevance, which is geared towards specific operational processes and areas of application, it is regarded by both occupational safety specialists and employers as an important part of a company's safety culture.
The recommendations of DGUV Rule 112-139 help to ensure the effectiveness of personal emergency signal systems and thus shorten the response time in an emergency. The aim is to ensure that working conditions in companies are safer overall.
What is the difference to BGR/GUV-R 139?
BGR/GUV-R 139 and DGUV Rule 112-139 refer to the same regulation and are both entitled "Use of personal emergency signal systems". They are therefore only different editions and names of the directive.
BGR/GUV-R stands for "BG Rules for Safety and Health at Work". The name of the rules was later changed and replaced by DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) regulations. DGUV Rule 112-139 therefore corresponds to the newer version of the regulation, but contains the same content and requirements as BGR/GUV-R 139.
The change to the names in the regulations took place on May 1, 2014 and resulted from the merger of the two umbrella associations of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions for the industrial sector(HVBG) and the German Social Accident InsuranceInstitutions for the public sector (BUK) to form the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). The new regulation was intended to eliminate the overlaps resulting from the merger.
Is DGUV Rule 112-139 available as a PDF?
DGUV Rule 112-139 is published as a PDF document under DGUV publications for free download. You can find the document here. Please note, however, that it is not barrier-free.
To access the accessible version, you can download the rule here for € 6.16 as a brochure.
Implementation in practice
DGUV Rule 112-139 can be put into practice in the following steps:
Identifying the hazards: The first step is to determine the potential hazards at the workplace for which protective measures are required. This is done by means of a risk assessment, the aim of which is to clarify whether working alone is permissible at all.
Selection and procurement of the appropriate personal emergency signal system: Suitable protective measures are selected according to the hazards identified, which fulfill the specifications of DGUV Rule 112-139 and its specific requirements for the PNA.
Training and instruction of employees: After purchasing the personal emergency signal system, all employees receive training and instruction on the proper use, maintenance and storage of the PNA. This is to ensure that employees comply with their duty to cooperate and are made aware of potential hazards.
Monitoring: It is also necessary to regularly check the use of the personal emergency signal system to ensure that it is being used correctly.
Maintenance of the PNA: The functionality of personal emergency signal systems must be checked regularly, the PNA must be maintained and replaced if necessary. This is to ensure that it provides the necessary protection.
Documentation: It is important to document all relevant information about the use of the PNA, including instruction, inspection, maintenance and replacement. This serves as proof of the proper implementation of DGUV Rule 112-139, which acts as a guideline for safety standards.
