VBG

What VBG does

VBG (Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft) is a German statutory accident insurance institution (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) operating under the SGB VII framework as one of the member organizations of the DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) federation. Founded in 1885 and headquartered in Hamburg, VBG is the mandatory accident insurer for employers in 14 defined industries — including education, performing arts, research, glass and ceramics, engineering, churches, banking, security services, gaming venues, sports, animal welfare, temporary staffing, and public transport — covering approximately 36 million insured persons across Germany. The organization delivers statutory accident insurance, workplace-safety consulting, risk assessment support, health promotion, and rehabilitation services to member companies, funded entirely through member contributions (Beiträge) calculated on industry risk class rather than commercial fees.

VBG's core technology is a multi-platform digital ecosystem for occupational health and safety management. The flagship product is GEDOKU, a database-driven risk assessment software (Gefährdungsbeurteilung), now upgraded in version 2.5 with KI-supported text generation and semantic search. Complementary portals include KPZ-Portal (for companies up to 20 employees) and DIAdrei (for companies up to 50 employees), which enable small businesses to fulfill statutory OHS obligations through self-service workflows. The AMS (Arbeitsschutz mit System) framework provides a 7-step management system with optional certification, and additional tools address psychological workload (Kurzanalyse im Team), shift-worker sleep (VBG-Schlafometer), and agile-work design (Roadmap 'Gesund agil arbeiten'). A KI-Chat AI assistant and German Sign Language accessibility features complement the web experience. VBG also operates a content/media business (Certo magazine, WORKlich?! podcast, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram) and a regional branch network (Bezirksverwaltungen) for in-person advisory services. Recent strategic emphasis has been on AI integration within the existing software stack and on expanding digital community engagement through initiatives like Mitdenken 4.0 and the digital-twin VR pilot.

Name

VBG

Legal name

VBG - Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft

Website

https://vbg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

VBG (Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft) is the German statutory accident insurance provider for employers in 14 industries, covering 36 million insured persons with OHS consulting, risk assessment software (GEDOKU), rehabilitation, and member-funded prevention services across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Statutory Occupational Accident Insurance

NAICS

Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Life Safety Code Compliance Inspections & Consulting (AHJ Support) (BPABAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Security, Safety & Fire/Life Safety Management (BPABAAAE)

Keywords

• Statutory accident insurance
• Occupational health and safety
• Workplace risk assessment
• Occupational safety consulting
• Workplace hazard management

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Statutory Accident Insurance Contributions (Beiträge): VBG is a statutory accident insurance institution (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung). German law mandates that employers in covered industries pay insurance contributions to VBG. Contributions are calculated based on the company's industry risk class (Gefahrtarif) and the company's safety record. VBG does not generate revenue in the commercial sense; its funding comes entirely from member contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

VBG is a German statutory accident insurance institution that provides mandatory occupational accident insurance, workplace safety and health consulting, hazard assessment software (GEDOKU, KPZ-Portal, DIAdrei), rehabilitation services, and a comprehensive training and publication program to member companies across 14 industry sectors. Services are funded by employer contributions and include AI-assisted risk assessment, systematic OHS management (AMS) with certification, and digital self-service portals.

Product overview

VBG (Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft) is a German statutory accident insurance provider offering a comprehensive digital ecosystem for occupational safety and health management. The core offering centers on GEDOKU, a database-based software for systematic hazard assessment (Gefährdungsbeurteilung), supplemented by specialized portals including KPZ-Portal for companies up to 20 employees and DIAdrei for companies up to 50 employees. These platforms enable companies to fulfill their legal obligations for workplace safety documentation and occupational health counseling. VBG also provides the AMS (Arbeitsschutz mit System) systematic occupational safety management framework with certification options, the GMS (Gesundheit mit System) health management approach, and various online tools for specific assessments like psychological workload (Kurzanalyse im Team) and shift worker sleep (VBG-Schlafometer). The organization offers AI-powered capabilities through GEDOKU 2.5 with KI-supported text generation and semantic search, a KI-Chat for customer inquiries, and digital accessibility features including sign language videos and easy language options. Additional services include seminars, training programs, the Certo customer magazine and podcast, and the 'Mitdenken 4.0' initiative for digital workplace transformation. The offerings serve 36 million insured persons across diverse industries including education, performing arts, research, glass and ceramics, engineering, churches, banking, security services, sports venues, animal husbandry, temporary work, and public transport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GEDOKU Database-based software for systematic hazard assessment (Gefährdungsbeurteilung) that guides member companies step-by-step through risk assessment, with industry-specific hazard catalogues and AI-supported text generation (GEDOKU 2.5). Available to VBG member companies.
• KPZ-Portal (Kompetenzzentren-Portal) Online portal enabling companies with up to 20 employees to acquire the occupational health and safety knowledge and documentation needed to fulfill their statutory supervision obligations.
• DIAdrei Online portal and entrepreneur model for small companies with 11 to 50 employees to develop occupational safety knowledge and create company-specific hazard assessment documentation as an alternative to mandatory on-site OHS specialist counseling.
• VBG Praxis-Check App and PDF-based tool for small companies with up to 10 employees to conduct and document workplace hazard assessments (Gefährdungsbeurteilung) with practical step-by-step guidance.
• AMS - Arbeitsschutz mit System Systematic occupational health and safety management system following a 7-step approach (leadership, hazard assessment, planning, employee participation, supervision, checking, improvement) with practical guidelines, tools, and a VBG-led certification option (AMS-Begutachtungsverfahren) for member companies.
• VBG KI-Chat AI-powered chatbot on the VBG website that provides member companies with instant answers to occupational safety and accident insurance questions.
• VBG Roadmap 'Gesund agil arbeiten' Digital roadmap tool supporting companies in introducing and designing agile work models while promoting employee health, performance, and satisfaction.
• Online-Tool Psychische Belastung Online assessment tool for companies with 51 or more employees to identify stress focal points and derive measures for well-designed psychosocial working conditions.
• Kurzanalyse im Team (KiT) Workshop-based analysis method for small companies with up to 50 employees to assess psychological workload in moderated team sessions.
• Online-Services (meine VBG) Customer portal providing online services for members, including accident reporting, membership management, and access to VBG digital offerings.
• GDA-ORGAcheck Online tool enabling small and medium-sized companies to review and improve their occupational health and safety organization, provided in collaboration with the German Joint Occupational Safety Strategy (GDA).
• Pflichtenkompass Interactive online tool providing guidance on fulfilling legal obligations for workplace safety, customized to individual company needs.
• Prämienverfahren Bonus system rewarding member companies that invest in prevention measures beyond legal requirements, offering financial support for qualified safety investments.
• Statutory Accident Insurance Coverage Mandatory statutory accident insurance (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) covering work accidents, commuting accidents, and occupational diseases for approximately 36 million insured persons in 14 VBG-covered industries in Germany, with monetary, medical, and participation benefits.
• VBG Seminars and Training Programs Hundreds of in-person and online seminars across Germany covering risk assessment, forklift operation, first aid, working at heights, ergonomic office design, and industry-specific safety. Many seminars are free for member companies, with VBG covering travel, catering, and seminar costs (e.g., for Sifa/Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit qualification).

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies implementing systematic occupational health and safety management (AMS) report medium- to long-term reductions in accident rates, improved employee motivation, and streamlined organizational processes.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung)coreOthersDGUV is the umbrella association (Dachverband) of all German statutory accident insurers. VBG is one of its members. DGUV coordinates cross-institution standards, publishes the DGUV Vorschrift regulations (e.g., DGUV Vorschrift 2 on occupational health services), and provides a unified framework for occupational safety policy across Germany. VBG participates in DGUV working groups and publishes DGUV-branded standards.
• BAuA (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin)coreOthersBAuA is the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. VBG references BAuA's technical rules (TRGS), guidance documents, and Gefahrstoffverordnung interpretations throughout its hazardous substances and risk assessment content. BAuA provides the regulatory foundation for many VBG advisory services.
• BMAS (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales)coreOthersBMAS is Germany's Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. VBG links to the BMAS Denkfabrik (Think Factory) on AI in government administration, and BMAS's broader AI policy framework informs VBG's digitalization strategy and study on AI adoption in member companies.
• GDA (Gemeinsame Deutsche Arbeitsschutzstrategie)coreOthersGDA is a coordinated strategy of German federal and state authorities, accident insurers, and social partners for improving occupational safety. VBG participates in GDA initiatives, references GDA guidelines (e.g., GDA-ORGAcheck for small and medium enterprises), and contributes to the GDA's hazard assessment framework.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung): DGUV is the umbrella federation of all German statutory accident insurers, of which VBG is a member. Comparable as the apex body setting cross-institution OHS standards (DGUV Vorschriften) and coordinating VBG's regulatory framework.

Direct peers

• BGW (Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege): BGW is the statutory accident insurer for German healthcare and welfare services. It directly mirrors VBG's structure as a Berufsgenossenschaft, offering equivalent OHS consulting, digital tools, and contribution-based insurance to its covered member companies.
• BG Verkehr: BG Verkehr is the statutory accident insurer for transport, postal/logistics, and customs sectors. Comparable to VBG as a sister Berufsgenossenschaft with identical legal mandate and operating model under SGB VII, covering different industry verticals.
• BG BAU (Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft): BG BAU is the statutory accident insurer for the German construction industry. It is a direct Berufsgenossenschaft peer operating under the same SGB VII mandate with the same contribution-funded, advisory-plus-insurance model as VBG, but covering a different industry vertical.
• SVLFG (Sozialversicherung für Landwirtschaft, Forsten und Gartenbau): SVLFG is the statutory social insurance institution for agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. Comparable as a peer statutory insurer under SGB VII that VBG cross-references for industry guidance, sharing the same self-administered, contribution-funded operating model.
• BG ETEM (Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse): BG ETEM is the statutory accident insurer for energy, textile, electrical, and media sectors. It is a direct Berufsgenossenschaft peer of VBG operating with the same statutory mandate, contribution model, and member advisory service orientation.
• BG Nahrungsmittel und Gastgewerbe: BGN is the statutory accident insurer for the German food and hospitality industry. Direct Berufsgenossenschaft peer of VBG with equivalent statutory mandate, contribution-based funding, and member OHS advisory services across different industry verticals.
• BG RCI (Rohstoffe und chemische Industrie): BG RCI is the statutory accident insurer for raw materials and the chemical industry. It is a direct Berufsgenossenschaft peer of VBG with parallel structural features — statutorily mandated insurance, employer-contribution funding, and member OHS advisory services.

Emerging players

• VelocityEHS: VelocityEHS is a commercial SaaS provider of EHS (environment, health, and safety) management software including incident management and risk assessment tools. Comparable to VBG's GEDOKU as an emerging commercial player whose OHS software competes for member company attention and budgets that VBG allocates to its free proprietary tools.

Regional players

• INAIL (Istituto Nazionale per l'Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro): INAIL is Italy's national statutory workers' compensation and OHS authority, operating a comparable mandatory insurance plus prevention/consulting model. Comparable to VBG as a foreign peer in the European statutory accident insurance landscape, though serving the Italian market and employer base rather than Germany's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/vbg-kanal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verwaltungs-berufsgenossenschaft
• Instagraminstagram.com/vbg_gesundimjob
• Xx.com/vbg_hamburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VBG