Occupational Safety and Health Association (Construction)

Occupational Accident Insurance Association (Construction) - The Occupational Accident Insurance Association for the Construction Industry (BG BAU) is the statutory accident insurance provider for the construction industry and construction-related services. It insures employees, apprentices, and, under certain conditions, business owners against workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and commuting accidents. Private builders who perform work themselves or employ construction helpers are subject to a reporting requirement with BG BAU.

Reporting Requirement for Private Builders

Any private builder who performs work on the construction site themselves or employs friends, neighbors, and relatives as construction helpers must report this to BG BAU no later than one week after construction begins. Registration is required by law (Section 191 of SGB VII) and serves to provide insurance coverage for the helpers. Without registration, there is no insurance coverage-in the event of an accident, the builder is personally liable for all resulting costs.

• Construction helpers (friends, neighbors, relatives) are mandatorily insured through BG BAU - the builder pays premiums based on the number of hours worked. The calculation is based on the risk class of the activity and the annually set premium rate.
• The building owner themselves, as a private building owner, is not automatically insured but can take out voluntary insurance (Section 6 of SGB VII). The costs are low, and the protection in the event of serious accidents is vital.
• Premiums are based on the risk class and the number of hours worked-for typical construction helper tasks, the premium is approximately 3-5 euros per hour worked.

If registration is neglected and a helper is injured, the building owner must pay the premiums retroactively and is personally liable for the costs of medical treatment, provided that BG BAU does not determine that insurance coverage exists. A serious workplace accident can result in medical treatment costs of several hundred thousand euros.

Benefits Provided by BG BAU

In the event of a claim-a workplace accident or occupational disease-BG BAU provides comprehensive benefits:

• Medical Treatment: Full coverage of treatment costs, including hospitalization, rehabilitation, and provision of medical aids
• Injury allowance: Income replacement amounting to 80% of regular pay during the period of incapacity for work
• Accident pension: In the event of permanent reduction in earning capacity (20% or more), amounting to a percentage of annual earnings
• Survivor benefits: Widow’s allowance, orphan’s pension, and death benefit in the event of fatal workplace accidents

In addition, BG BAU has an important prevention role: It develops accident prevention regulations (DGUV rules), monitors compliance on construction sites, and advises companies and building owners on workplace safety. Violations of accident prevention regulations can be punished as administrative offenses.

BG BAU and Illegal Employment

An often-overlooked aspect: Anyone who employs tradespeople without proper registration (illegal employment) is not insured through BG BAU. In the event of an accident, the building owner is personally and fully liable-without the protection of statutory accident insurance. BG BAU is authorized to inspect unregistered construction sites and to demand back payments if violations are found. We strongly recommend hiring only properly registered companies and always registering construction workers with BG BAU.

Practical Tip for Property Owners in Nuremberg and Franconia

We recommend that property owners in the Nuremberg metropolitan region take registration with BG BAU seriously-even for seemingly minor DIY tasks such as painting, landscaping, or tile laying. A fall from scaffolding or an electric shock during electrical work can have life-altering consequences-without insurance coverage, the property owner bears all costs. Registration can be done easily and free of charge online via the BG BAU website (www.bgbau.de)-billing takes place after the end of construction based on the actual hours worked. Keep a construction helper log in which the names, activities, and working hours of all helpers are documented daily-this simplifies premium billing and serves as proof in the event of an insurance claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I also have to register for small renovations?

Work performed as part of normal household maintenance (painting, wallpapering, gardening without structural changes) is generally not subject to mandatory registration. However, as soon as structural alterations are made (demolishing load-bearing walls, laying new floors, electrical work, roofing, basement renovation) and construction helpers are employed, reporting is mandatory. In case of doubt, we recommend reporting - the costs are low, the protection is significant, and the administrative burden is minimal.

How much does insurance cost with BG BAU?

For private construction helpers, BG BAU calculates premiums based on hours worked and the risk class of the activity. For typical construction helper tasks (assisting on the construction site), the premium is approximately 3-5 euros per hour. For the construction of a single-family home requiring 500 hours of labor, the BG BAU costs thus amount to approximately 1,500-2,500 euros-a fraction of the costs that would arise in the event of an uninsured accident resulting in permanent disability. Premiums are settled upon completion of construction based on the reported hours worked.

Are the contracted tradespeople insured through their own BG?

Yes, employees of properly registered trades businesses are mandatorily insured through their employer’s BG BAU. The homeowner is only required to register their own construction helpers (private individuals without employer status) with BG BAU and pay the premiums. Check with tradespeople to ensure their business is properly registered with BG BAU-a printout of the current BG BAU membership certificate provides assurance. In cases of illegal employment or bogus self-employment, the tradesperson has no insurance coverage, and the building owner could become liable.

Coordination Obligations of the Building Owner When Multiple Trades Are Involved

A building owner who coordinates multiple trades simultaneously on a construction site-which is typical for major renovations or new construction projects-has coordination obligations under the Construction Site Ordinance (BaustellV) in addition to the BG-BAU registration requirement. If more than one person is expected to be employed simultaneously on a construction site and the work lasts longer than 30 working days, the building owner must appoint a Safety and Health Protection Coordinator (SiGeKo) and notify the competent authority of the construction site in advance. In Bavaria, this is the respective trade supervisory authority.

The SiGeKo coordinates the occupational safety measures of the various contractors, develops the safety and health protection plan, and documents the measures. In the Nuremberg metropolitan region, specialized engineering and architectural firms offer SiGeKo services; costs range from 1,000 to 5,000 euros, depending on the scope of construction. This obligation also applies to private builders-those who ignore it risk fines and are personally liable in the event of damage for accident-related costs resulting from inadequate coordination.

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