Alte Uhr als Exponat in der DASA Ausstellungseinheit "Im Takt der Maschine"

DASA History

2018 25 years young

We celebrate a quarter of a century! We've welcomed over 4 million visitors, we're continuing to grow steadily, we have great ideas for the future and we particularly want to say a huge "Thank you" to all of you!


2016 A record number of visitors

DASA is visited by over 200,000 people in one year for the first time.


2013 A new director

DASA gets a new director: Gregor Isenbort.


2011 A murderous record

The "Murder in the Museum" exhibition is visited by 60,000 people, a new record for a temporary exhibition.


2010 Welcoming the world

DASA plays host to 800 visitors from 40 nations at the “Ecsite” Annual Conference, a global network of science centres and technology museums.


2005 Young researchers

“Jugend forscht”, a German national youth science competition, takes place at DASA and prizes are awarded by the former President of Germany, Horst Köhler.


2000 A new millennium for the future of work

The German Federal Minister of Labour, Walter Riester, opens the completed DASA exhibition. There are now 12 exhibition areas covering a total of 13,000 square metres. DASA is also registered as a global project at EXPO 2000. From now on, around 108,000 visitors a year learn that safety at work goes beyond just wearing a safety helmet or special protective shoes.


1993 partial opening of DASA

DASA commences operations. DASA opens its doors to the general public with areas entitled "Following the rhythm of the machines", "The race for the latest headlines" and "At the screen". Further exhibition areas are opened one by one.


1988 From the drawing board to reality

Dr. Gerhard Kilger and a small team of staff begin work on planning, designing and bringing the "German Exhibition of Occupational Safety and Health" (DASA) to life.


1980 "The Go" for DASA

On the 10th September 1980, the German Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs issues a decree announcing the creation of a permanent exhibition on occupational safety. Its goals: "To inform the general public about the world of work, its status in society and its human-oriented design, as well as safety in the home, during free time and in schools". The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Accident Research (BAU) in Dortmund is tasked with implementing the project.


1967 Lots of new things in East Germany

A permanent exhibition entitled "Occupational Safety and Hygiene" is set up in the Dresden Hygiene Museum by the Central Institute for Occupational Safety with the backing of the GDR government. It remains there until 1991 and becomes an incredibly important method of transfering information about occupational safety in the GDR.


1951 A fresh start

The Federal Republic of Germany sets up the headquarters of the "Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health" in Koblenz. However, there is little hope that it will prove to be an effective source of information on occupational safety. The development work begins with a range of slides and small-scale touring exhibitions.


1949 An uncertain future

The "Central Institute for Occupational Safety and Health" begins its work in Soest on 1st April 1949. Back in Berlin, 4000 square metres of exhibition space in the old museum has been reduced to rubble and ash.


1939 Dark times

In a time of enforced conformity, the German Museum of Occupational Safety is downgraded to the "Reich Authority for Occupational Safety". Two female members of staff who worked with the "Red Orchestra" resistance group are executed in 1942 and 1943 respectively. In 1943, the museum is damaged in air raids. After this, some of the museum's inventory is sent to Soest by truck.


1927 The German Museum of Occupational Safety

Modernised spaces, new areas – the "Permanent Exhibition of Workers' Welfare" becomes the "German Museum of Occupational Safety".


1913 A multimedia museum almost 100 years ago

Over 3600 exhibits, courses, lectures and a reading room: The "Permanent Exhibition of Workers' Welfare" is a successful showcase for occupational safety. As early as 1916, films are used as an engaging way to transmit information.


1903 The first permanent occupational safety exhibition

For the first time ever there is a fixed site where people who want to protect workers can campaign for improved occupational safety and health. On 18th June 1903, the "Permanent Exhibition of Workers' Welfare" opens its doors to the general public in Berlin. Machines are shown in action wherever possible.


1889 Accident prevention draws crowds

An exhibition on accident risks and prevention put on in summer 1889 draws huge crowds. More than one million visitors, including 300,000 workers, visit the "German General Exhibition of Accident Prevention".


1886 Precursor to the Berlin Hygiene Museum

The success of the "General German Exhibition On Hygiene and Life-Saving Systems" leads to the foundation of the Berlin Hygiene Museum. The focus is on accident prevention. One example of a topic that the exhibition deals with is protecting people against steam boiler explosions. Other themes include protection against dust or poisonous gases. Health protection is usually presented as part of general working hygiene.


1883 An exhibition from the very start

On 12th May 1883, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm gives the go-ahead for an exhibition on occupational safety in Berlin, when he opens the "General German Exhibition On Hygiene and Life-Saving Systems". 25 pavilions deal with themes including caring for the poor, urban hygiene and the disposal of waste water. A whole section is dedicated to occupational safety. It's a roaring success: 870,000 visitors come to the show in the space of five months.