DNEL Available Online

The German Social Accident Insurance (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung – DGUV) organization has published derived no-effect levels (DNEL) for some 3,250 materials into GESTIS (Gefahrstoffinformationssystem), the database on hazardous substances. Employers can search or download the data into a Microsoft Excel file at http://www.dguv.de/ifa/Gefahrstoffdatenbanken/GESTIS-DNEL-Datenbank/index-2.jsp.

Specific threshold values – desired no-effect levels – may not be exceeded when individuals come into contact with hazardous materials. The threshold values are a fixed element of the Chemical Safety Report. According to REACH, such a report must be created for substances that are bought and sold in quantities greater than ten tons.

German law on hazardous substances also specifies how to evaluate threshold values (Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerte: AGW) and the maximum concentration value (Maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentration: MAK) at a workplace. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin: BAuA) has issued technical rules (TRGS 440 and TRGS 402) that define which of the three values applies in a given situation. If AGW values exist for a substance, they are mandatory for employers in Germany.

Share This Post

Post Navigation

11 Comments

Comments are closed.