Glossary: Psychological Risk Assessment

From 2026, at least 5% of all companies will be inspected annually for psychological risk assessment compliance.

ArbSchG (Occupational Safety and Health Act)

Central German law for safety and health at work, basis for risk assessment.

ArbStättV (Workplace Ordinance)

Ordinance on safety and health in workplaces, including psychological factors.

ArbZG (Working Hours Act)

Regulates working hours, breaks and rest periods to protect employee health.

ASA (Occupational Safety Committee)

Company committee for consulting on occupational safety matters, mandatory from 20 employees.

ASiG (Occupational Safety Act)

Regulates appointment of company doctors and safety specialists to support the employer.

BEM (Return-to-Work Management)

Legally required procedure for reintegration after prolonged illness (§167 SGB IX).

BetrVG (Works Constitution Act)

Regulates works council co-determination, including in psychological risk assessment.

BGM (Workplace Health Management)

Systematic management of all company processes aiming to promote employee health and well-being.

State of chronic under-challenge and boredom at work with negative health consequences.

State of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged workplace overload.

Occupationally qualified physician advising the employer on health protection matters.

COPSOQ (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire)

Scientifically validated questionnaire for assessing psychosocial factors in the workplace, developed in Denmark.

DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance)

Umbrella organization of commercial professional associations and accident insurance funds with occupational safety regulations.

International standard for defining and measuring psychological stress and strain in the workplace.

Legal obligation to document risk assessment and its results in writing.

FABA (Work-Related Behavior and Experience Patterns Questionnaire)

Instrument for assessing individual coping patterns and burnout risk in employees.

GBU Psych (Psychological Risk Assessment)

Umbrella term for all procedures for systematically assessing psychological stress in the workplace.

GDA Guideline (Joint German Occupational Safety Strategy)

Binding guideline for psychological risk assessment with clear process steps.

IMPULS Test

Austrian self-assessment method for psychological stress, based on KFZA.

ISTA (Instrument for Stress-Related Job Analysis)

Scientific method for analyzing stress-related work characteristics and job demands.

KFZA (Short Questionnaire for Work Analysis)

Compact German questionnaire for quick assessment of working conditions and psychological stress.

Professional Association (Berufsgenossenschaft)

Provider of statutory accident insurance for companies, offers prevention services and consulting.

The immediate individual reaction to psychological stress - can be positive or negative.

The totality of all assessable influences that act upon a person from outside and affect them psychologically.

psyGA (Mental Health in the Workplace)

BMAS initiative with free materials and action guides for mental health in the workplace.

Psychological resistance - the ability to cope with crises and emerge stronger from them.

Protective factors that help cope with stress - personal, social and organizational resources.

Systematic identification and evaluation of all hazards in the workplace - core obligation of the employer.

Safety Representative (SiBe)

Voluntary employee who monitors compliance with occupational safety regulations in the workplace.

SALSA (Salutogenic Subjective Work Analysis)

Questionnaire with salutogenic approach that captures both stress and resources in the workplace.

Sifa (Safety Specialist)

Specially trained specialist advising the employer on all occupational safety matters.

Third GDA characteristic area: leadership behavior, cooperation, social support and conflicts.

SPA (Psychological Workload Screening)

Quick screening method for identifying psychological stress hotspots in the workplace.

Factors that can trigger stress - physical, psychological or social stress factors in the workplace.

WAI (Work Ability Index)

Finnish instrument for measuring work ability, capturing physical and psychological factors.

First GDA characteristic area: completeness, autonomy, variety and emotional demands of work.

Fourth GDA characteristic area: physical and chemical factors such as noise, climate, lighting and hazardous substances.

Second GDA characteristic area: working time, workflow, communication and interruptions.

Systematic harassment, exclusion or hostility toward a person in the workplace over an extended period.

Elected employee representation with co-determination rights in occupational safety and health.