Accident prevention
Accident and occupational disease prevention is a legal obligation. It results in particular from the following legislation: the Accident Insurance Act (AIA, SR 832.20) with which all workers and employers are required to comply, the implementing ordinance of the AIA of 19 December 1983 on accident prevention, the Employment Act (EmpA, SR 822.11) and indirectly the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO, SR 220) and the Federal Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act (VPETA, SR 412.10) as well.
The obligation to prevent accidents is not only imposed on employers but also on workers, including learners. Workers are in particular bound to comply with the instructions given by the employer and abide by generally recognised safety rules. The main accident and occupational disease prevention measures are the following:
- use of personal protection gear (clothes, eyewear, helmet, etc.)
- workers’ training
- protection devices (constructions, machines, appliances, work processes, etc.)
- prevention by occupational health services
The implementation of accident prevention measures is mostly the responsibility of the implementing bodies of the Employment Act (EmpA, SR 822.11) and SUVA. Non-compliance with safety recommendations will lead to sanctions. This is why employers and workers can be fined or sentenced to prison.
