Sustainability

Prevention

Doctor in a white lab coat consulting patient

Our goal: no work-related illnesses

Our goal is to prevent work-related illnesses completely by means of preventive care. The field of occupational medicine covers the entire spectrum of interaction between people, the workplace and the environment.

The type, scope and frequency of occupational health examinations are governed by several statutory and employers' liability insurance association requirements.

Occupational medicine enables prevention

By regularly inspecting plants and workplaces, we obtain significant information, which is incorporated in the overall occupational health assessment. Qualified risk assessments are, for example, the basis for evaluations and any improvements that may be derived from them. When technical and organizational innovations are made within the company, expertise in occupational health is already integrated in the planning stage.

As occupational physicians, our starting point is not the effects but rather on the causes of possible health risk factors. Preventive design enables us to reach the highest possible level of risk avoidance and health promotion. The worldwide applicable BASF Group guideline “Safety, Health and Environmental Protection (SHE) in the Design and Construction of Plants” is the basis for this approach.

Prevention from a single source

In trusting collaboration with attending general practitioners and specialists, we occupational health system treating acute disorders and conducting individualized preventive health examinations close to the workplace. In doing so, we keep an eye on the entirety of interactions between the workplace and employee health. With this in mind, the new BASF Medical Center will be operating starting mid-2023 and will be located directly outside the site gates: The integrated concept will give BASF employees access to all essential medical services "under one roof". At the same time, numerous services will be available to citizens in our neighborhood.

Our medical services go beyond the legal requirements

In addition to statutory obligations, we offer preventive medical check-ups for certain employee groups. For example, we offer follow-up examinations for employees who were formerly exposed to hazardous substances and general cancer screening examinations. We have been providing regular preventive medical check-ups for employees working in rotating shifts on a voluntary basis even before a statutory regulation was introduced. This is regulated by a company agreement at BASF.

All BASF employees are offered a BASF Health Check at regular intervals with the purpose of identifying illnesses and personal risks at an early stage.

Workplace-related health disorders

In occupational health, early detection of disease can have a lasting impact on personal lives. For example, aromatic amines were used in the chemical industry in the past. In some cases, exposure to these chemicals could cause cancer of the urinary tract. Active and former employees who handled these substances are enrolled in a stringent screening program. Consistent early detection enables affected employees to receive treatment from specialists as early as possible and be cured.

Non-workplace-related health disorders

Often, health disorders are discovered during preventive medical check-ups that are not related to the occupational activity but should be treated. These are primarily circulatory or metabolic disorders, such as high blood pressure, lipid metabolism disorders or diabetes. As part of every examination and the basis of preventive health, employees are given advice on their health situation and recommendations for further action, such as consulting their family doctor.

Travel medicine and vaccinations

Business travelers and employees who are transferred with their families to various countries around the globe have many inquiries about their health while traveling. Our services in travel medicine include:

Providing information on the health risks of each destination
Reviewing immunization status and administering all required vaccinations

There is a well-established network of health care facilities in many countries around the world where BASF employees can seek medical attention. In the event of a very serious acute illness or accident, Corporate Health Management can arrange for professional evacuation with the help of internationally operating rescue organizations, if required.

Ergonomics and physiotherapy

The prevention of musculoskeletal disorders has become an increasingly important focus. ErgoPhysConsultants^® provide recommendations to employees and entire plants on ergonomic workplace design and improvement of the existing situation on-site.

Employees with complaints such as back or neck pain can receive treatment without long commutes and waiting times from our physiotherapy services offered by partnering external professionals.

Rehabilitation and reintegration

Employees with disabilities or serious illnesses require the company's special protection. For this reason, we work closely with BASF‘s Commission for Severely Disabled Employees, which takes care of the interests and needs of disabled people in the company.

After a long period of illness, employees return to the workplace (and its stress factors) under medical supervision as part of a gradual reintegration program. If the employee’s full capacity cannot be restored immediately or can no longer be restored, we ensure that the workplace or working hours are adapted accordingly.

If an employee needs to be relocated to another workplace, we provide occupational health advice to all those involved in the reorganization.