BGV A8 is a regulation issued by the German employers' liability insurance association.

BGV A8

BGV stands forthe German Employers' Liability Insurance Association's regulationsfor safety and health at work. The BGV A8 wasan accident prevention regulation: "Safety and health protection labelling in the workplace".

As one of the oldest regulations, it regulated health and safety signs in the workplace and was only partially valid in the end. Among other things, the regulation governed the design of an escape and rescue plan and made a safety and health statement about safety signs, such as symbols (icons) in a specific geometric shape and colour, hand signals, acoustic signals and much more.

Specifically, these are:

• prohibition and mandatory signs
• warning signs
• rescue sign
• firesafety signs
• information signs
• pictograms
• Additional signs and combined signs
• Light signals, sound signals, voice signals
• Hand signals
• Safety colour

The BGV A8 has been repealed since 1 November 2012; the essential contents are covered by the current ASR A1.3 "Safety and health protection labelling".

BGV A8 / DGUV Regulation 9

Due to the merger of the employers' liability insurance associations and public accident insurers, BGV A8 was last included in the regulations and rules of the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) with the following new designation "DGUV / Regulation 9".

BGV A8 replaced by ASR A1.3

The BGV A8 / DGUV regulation 9 was replaced by the ASR A1.3. This ASR A1.3 is a technical workplace regulation, in which, in addition to the safety and health protection labelling, the implementation of the escape and rescue routes is also defined. It is almost mandatory for all workplaces.

The revised version of March 2013 refers to the new safety signs of the internationally valid DIN EN ISO 7010 and to the signs of the residual standard 4844. Companies with ASR A1.3 labelling comply with the provisions of the ArbStättV (Workplace Ordinance). In the event of damage, the presumption of conformity applies because the workplaces have been equipped according to the latest state of the art.

Is BGV A8 labelling still valid?

Existing BGV A8 signage remains valid. Signs can be replaced or added in line with the old regulation. However, it is not possible to combine old and new safety signs.

A risk assessment should be carried out in a company with existing BGV A8 safety labelling. If it is determined that there is insufficient protection for employees, new labels in accordance with ASR A1.3 must be used.

ASR A1.3 is exclusively relevant for new labelling at the workplace. This also applies to the initial equipping of extensions or conversions in workplaces with existing BGV A8 labelling.