Statutory occupational accident insurance was already established back in 1884. The agencies in charge of providing this form of insurance are the industrial and agricultural employers' liability funds as well as the public-sector accident insurance funds, which include both municipal accident insurance associations and other accident funds. While the employers' liability funds are organised according to industry, the public-sector accident insurance funds are for the most part organised regionally.
The accident insurance funds fulfil their legally designated tasks of preventing and insuring for occupational accidents and illnesses by means of self-administration on the basis of parity between employers, entrepreneurs and employees. The organs of self-administration are the members' assembly and executive board. This arrangement ensures that the interests of all participants are represented.
The legal basis for occupational accident insurance is formed by the German Social Code, in particular Book VII (SGB VII).