Occupational health and safety are prerequisites for efficient production.

Reductions in injuries have been achieved in the German coal mining industry against the background of increasing production. The sustainable development of occupational health and safety is considered and the key elements of a safety management system described, including integrating health and safety into all operational processes, understanding the importance of preventive measures in relation to health and safety, development of target group-oriented programmes in health and safety, improving the motivation of all those involved in health and safety and implementation of a continuous improvement process.
Reductions in injuries have been achieved in the German coal mining industry against the background of increasing production. The sustainable development of occupational health and safety is considered and the key elements of a safety management system described, including integrating health and safety into all operational processes, understanding the importance of preventive measures in relation to health and safety, development of target group-oriented programmes in health and safety, improving the motivation of all those involved in health and safety and implementation of a continuous improvement process.