History of Vision Zero
Vision Zero is the vision of a world without occupational
accidents and work-related diseases. Its highest priority is to
prevent fatal and serious work accidents and occupational
diseases. Vision Zero is the goal of a comprehensive culture of
prevention. As early as 2008, the German Social Accident
Insurance’s prevention strategy firmly embedded the goal of
shaping working and living environments in such a way that nobody
is killed or so severely injured or ill for work reasons that they
suffer permanent damage. However, in order for Vision Zero to
become a reality one day, prevention work must always be realigned
to this goal. This broad and networked approach requires everyone
in society to get involved. The basic maxims are:
- Life is not
negotiable!
- People make
mistakes!
- Tolerance limits
are the physical load limits of humans!
- People have a basic
right to a safe working environment!
If life is not negotiable and people make mistakes, then it is
ethically unacceptable to pay for a mistake with a loss of life or
a serious injury!
... Vision Zero is a strategic, comprehensive and qualitative
approach
- where objectives are
formulated and agreed upon,
- which is geared
towards risks and hazards
- which takes into
consideration all the circumstances behind accidents at work and
on the road, occupational diseases and work-related health
hazards. The goal of zero accidents might seem difficult, but it
is the only ethically correct goal that we must work on in the
future. Vision Zero provides a strategy to achieve this. Under
Vision Zero, safety and health at work are values that
companies, organisations and society appreciate and strive for.
