The insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases for the industrial sector (gewerbliche Berufsgenossenschaften) in Germany represents a particular model of social security, in which prevention is very important both as a humanitarian and as a methodological element. An analysis of the trend in costs and benefits over the past 34 years proves that success in prevention - in spite of a major increase in the actual benefits - has made a substantial contribution to the stability of the system. If the frequency of serious occupational accidents were today still at the high level of the year 1960, contributions under the current cost structure would have to be much higher: serious estimations proceed from the double of the current costs of 22 billion DM. In this context, we have to point out that the financial contributions levied to cover these costs are paid exclusively by the employers.
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