Hazardous substances
Hazard evaluation according to Ordinance on Hazardous Substances (GefstV)
Employers working with dangerous substances in their establishments must provide adequate employee protection.
To judge whether this protection is sufficient, a risk assessment based on the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances must be created. This is to determine the risk posed by hazardous chemical agents. Activity-related hazards, such as skin and lungs, should first be assessed separately and then together in an overall assessment, the result of which should state which protective measures should be taken. An important instrument are the measurements of hazardous substances at the workplace. Exposure measurements can provide evidence that workplace threshold values have been adhered to.
The employer should work with hazardous substances only after a risk assessment has been performed and the necessary protective measures have been taken. Our seasoned experts offer specialist support in risk assessment and advise you when you have questions.
Characteristics of risk assessment
If the employees work with hazardous substances, or hazardous substances arise or are released through these activities, the employer must give notice of all threats to the health and safety of employees based on this, using the following assessment criteria:
- Hazardous properties of substances or preparations
- Safety information from the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet
- Extent, type, and duration of exposure, taking into account all routes of exposure
- Physical and chemical effects and possibilities of substitution
- Occupational and biological exposure limit values
- Effectiveness of the safeguarding measures taken or to be taken
What sets us apart?
With our accredited measurement agencies according to section 9 (6) of the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances and our testing laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, we offer a comprehensive range of services on the issue of dangerous substances in the workplace.
Our clients are in industry (e.g. manufacturers and processors of solvent substances, the chemical industry, the steel industry, and automobile manufacturers), handicrafts, trading, publishing, hospitals, and power utilities, but also professional associations, public authorities, and private individuals.
Which services do we offer?
We perform risk assessment in your company according to the occupational safety law (ArbSchutzG), the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances (GefStoffV), and the Biomaterial Act (BioStoffV).
- We give you comprehensive advice on risk analysis and the implementation of the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances in your company. For special requirements, we offer you the appropriate solution, such as health and safety in operating and post-op rooms, morgues, and laboratories.
Which standards and statutory regulations form the basis of our work?
The basis of the assessments are the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances (GefStoffV) of 01.01.2005 and Directive 98/24/EC. Here in particular article 4, "Determination of the risk" and section 7 "Information hazard identification and assessment", paragraph 5, govern the assessment of hazards.
The assessment of working conditions is regulated in section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of July 8, 1996.
Contact:
Our experts are glad to answer your individual questions at any time. Just send us an e-mail by clicking on the contact box (top right).
