EU occupational exposure limits
EU Occupational Exposure Limits ( English EU occupational exposure limits , EU OEL) and biological limit values (BGW) can in accordance with Directive 98/24 / EC of the European Commission be established. The guideline defines the occupational exposure limit value as a limit value for the time-weighted average concentration of a chemical substance in the air at the workplace in relation to a given reference period. In the reference period is usually either 8 hours ( English eight hours time-weighted-average , TWA) or 15 minutes ( English short-term exposure limit , STEL).
Until 2019, EU occupational exposure limit values were based on the recommendations of the Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL). In 2019, this task was assigned to the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC). There can be two types of EU occupational exposure limit values: binding occupational exposure limits ( English binding occupational exposure limit values , EU BOELVs) and IOELVs ( english indicative occupational exposure limit values , EU IOELV).
Mandatory occupational exposure limit values (BOELV)
The EU's binding occupational exposure limit values are minimum standards that must be adopted by all member states. The national limit value for an agent may therefore be lower (i.e. stricter) than the mandatory occupational limit value, but it must not be higher than this.
The EU's binding occupational exposure limit values are not based exclusively on scientific data on health protection, but also take socio-economic aspects and technical feasibility into account. Accordingly, the binding workplace limit values of the EU correspond to e.g. B. not the German definition of the occupational exposure limit value according to § 2, paragraph 8 of the GefStoffV , compliance with which acute or chronically harmful effects on health are generally not to be expected. For this reason, they are not listed in TRGS 900. In Germany, the binding occupational exposure limit values of the EU are being transposed into national law via Section 7 (11) of the GefStoffV.
So far, binding occupational exposure limits for a total of 22 substances have been specified in directives (98/24 / EC, 2004/37 / EC, 2009/148 / EC, 2017/2398 / EU and 2019/130 / EU):
| Working substance | EU guidelines | BOELV | reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and inorganic lead compounds | 98/24 / EC | 0.15 mg / m³ | |
| benzene | 2004/37 / EC | 1 ml / m³ | |
| Hardwood dust | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
2 mg / m³ (E) | |
| Vinyl chloride | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
2.6 mg / m³ | |
| asbestos | 2009/148 / EC | 100,000 F / m³ | |
| Acrylamide | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
0.1 mg / m³ | |
| Bromoethylene | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
4.4 mg / m³ | |
| 1,3-butadiene | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
2.2 mg / m³ | |
| Chromium (VI) compounds | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
0.005 mg / m³ (as chromium) | |
| 1,2-epoxypropane ( propylene oxide ) | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
2.4 mg / m³ | |
| Ethylene oxide | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
1.8 mg / m³ | |
| Hydrazine | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
0.013 mg / m³ | |
| Ceramic fibers , refractory | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
0.3 F / ml | |
| 2-nitropropane | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
18 mg / m³ | |
| Silicon dioxide , crystalline, respirable | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
0.1 mg / m³ | |
| o-toluidine | 2004/37 / EC
2017/2398 / EU |
0.5 mg / m³ | |
| Diesel engine emissions | 2004/37 / EC
2019/130 / EU |
0.05 mg / m³ ( EC ) | |
|
Epichlorohydrin |
2004/37 / EC
2019/130 / EU |
1.9 mg / m³ | |
|
Ethylene dibromide |
2004/37 / EC
2019/130 / EU |
0.8 mg / m³ | |
| Ethylene dichloride | 2004/37 / EC
2019/130 / EU |
8.2 mg / m³ | |
|
4,4'-methylenedianiline |
2004/37 / EC
2019/130 / EU |
0.08 mg / m³ | |
| Trichlorethylene | 2004/37 / EC
29/130 / EU |
54.7 mg / m³ |
Indicative occupational exposure limit values (IOELV)
EU indicative occupational exposure limit values must be taken into account by the competent national authorities of the member states when issuing legally binding occupational exposure limit values. However, there is no express obligation to adopt the air limit value exactly at the level recommended by the EU Commission. Indicative occupational exposure limit values are based exclusively on scientific data on the health risk from a specific substance.
So far, indicative occupational exposure limit values have been defined in four guidelines:
- 2000/39 / EC
- 2006/15 / EC
- 2009/161 / EU
- 2017/164 / EU
If in Germany to an agent, not a workplace exposure limit is set according to TRGS 900, 402 to assess the TRGS exposure z. B. the indicative occupational exposure limit of the EU can be used.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Council Directive 98/24 / EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work
- ↑ Decision 2014/113 / EU of the European Commission to set up a scientific committee for limit values for occupational exposure to chemical agents and to repeal decision 95/320 / EG
- ^ [1] DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, accessed September 19, 2019.
- ↑ a b c Foreign and EU limit values Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance, accessed June 27, 2015
- ↑ a b c Binding occupational exposure limit values of the EU Commission Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Statutory Accident Insurance, accessed June 27, 2015.
- ↑ a b SCOEL's involvement in setting Occupational Exposure Limits Document of the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL), accessed June 27, 2015.
- ↑ Hazardous Substances Ordinance § 2 Definitions
- ↑ Hazardous Substances Ordinance § 7 Basic Obligations
- ↑ a b Origin of German air limit values GESTIS, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Statutory Accident Insurance, accessed June 27, 2015.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Directive 2004/37 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 29, 2004 on the protection of workers from carcinogens or mutagens in the Job.
- ↑ a b Directive 2009/148 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 30, 2009 on the protection of workers against risks related to asbestos at work
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Directive (EU) 2017/2398 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 12, 2017 amending Directive 2004/37 / EC on the protection of workers against risks caused by Carcinogens or Mutagens at Work , accessed February 7, 2019
- ↑ a b c d e f g Directive (EU) 2019/130 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 amending Directive 2004/37 / EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to risks related to carcinogens or mutagens at work , accessed on February 7, 2019
- ↑ Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances 402 Determining and assessing the hazards associated with activities involving hazardous substances: Inhalation exposure, BAuA, accessed June 29, 2015