Black and white principle
As black and white principle is known in Germany one reached numerous measures separation of dirty "black" and clean "white", and outdoor and indoor areas. This principle is intended to avoid the spread of undesirable substances, especially by people. The principle was introduced in the mining industry in the 1920s , where at first it was only a matter of keeping the very dirty work area and the correspondingly soiled work clothes away from the clean everyday clothes. The black-and-white principle is also of great importance today in the area of hygiene in order to avoid the transmission of pathogens , as well as in decontamination areas in civil protection and disaster control .
principle
An essential aspect of the black and white principle is the strict separation of dirty, contaminated or contaminated substances or objects from the clean area. For this purpose, there are two largely identical changing rooms, which are only separated by an area in which appropriate cleaning or decontamination is possible (washing facilities, showers or disinfection, etc.). The staff enters the “white” changing room in a clean state, completely undresses and then goes into the “black” changing room, where the unclean clothing is put on. If it comes back dirty or contaminated with germs, it goes to the “black” changing room, undresses completely and, after appropriate cleaning, goes to the “white” changing room, where the clean clothes are put on again. This principle is z. For example, it is also used the other way around in clinics, so that the outside area with private clothing is viewed as “dirty / black” in relation to the inside area that needs to be kept clean. In this case, appropriate measures must also be taken so that no contamination is brought in via the body.
In many cases, the work area is separated as "white" from the "black" outside area; it is therefore always determined by the area of application whether “white” describes the interior or exterior.
distribution
Due to its high efficiency, this principle is now also widely used outside of mining. Further areas of application today are sewage technology , but also when dealing with substances harmful to health. Large plants in industrial agriculture use it for hygienic reasons. In the event of an epidemic, the black and white principle is mandatory for every agricultural operation. Laboratories, regardless of their size, must adhere to a black and white separation depending on the intended use.
Similar to its importance in mining, the black and white principle is applied in the area of remediation of contaminated sites , for example in the remediation of asbestos . A cordoned off black area in which work is carried out with and on contaminated material is preceded by a white area. In the transition between the two areas there are showers or special decontamination systems that allow the removal of protective clothing and cleaning. In such cases, the white area may not be entered from the black area without cleaning and wearing work clothes. The black-and-white principle is stipulated in the corresponding regulations, for example in TRGS 524 (protective measures for activities in contaminated areas) and TRGS 519 (asbestos: demolition, renovation or maintenance work). The same applies to decontamination areas to be set up by aid organizations as part of NBC protection . There the term “black area” denotes the (contaminated / unclean) area before decontamination, whereas the “white area” refers to the clean area on the other side of the decontamination system.
Black and white pigs in mining
The wash house is built in front of the work area . It consists of two identically designed changing rooms, mostly halls, between which there is a cleaning area, usually with a sufficient number of showers.
The Bergmann enters the start of work the white area in which he takes off his clothes and clean everyday she pulls on a chain hanging several meters below the ceiling. Then he goes naked into the black (dirty) area, which is designed in the same way as the white changing area, and lets down his (dirty) work clothes from above and puts them on. From now on he is in the "black" work area and starts his work there. After the end of the shift , he undresses again in the black area and cleans himself in the showers between the black and white area. Then he goes into the clean (white) changing room and puts on his clean, private clothes that have been ventilated on the ceiling.
Black and white principle in livestock farming (hygiene sluice)
The “black” outside area, which is seen as potentially contaminated with pathogens , should be separated from the “white” inside area in such a way that the transmission of pathogens is made more difficult or prevented. Before entering the stable building, workers have to completely undress in a "black" changing room, and then go through a shower to another "white" changing room where they put on their work clothes (including company underwear ). All persons who want to go into the stable have to go through this hygiene lock.
In large companies there is a dedicated fleet of vehicles for both areas ; in smaller companies it is permissible to drive vehicles through disinfection tubs from the black area. The stables with black and white separation are connected to each other with closed walkways.
Compliance with the black and white principle is regulated by law in Germany.
Application in today's technology
The creation and processing of the finest structures in today's technology requires very clean environments. That is why, for example, semiconductor circuits and hard drives are manufactured and processed in clean rooms . Here the original idea of separating clean and dirty is used again. However, the (inner) work area is now viewed as clean “white” and not as “black” as was originally the case in mining.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Dekon P Platz NRW, page 7 (PDF; 744 kB)
- ↑ FwDV 500 (BBK) ( Memento of the original from August 18, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Technical rule for hazardous substances 524: Protective measures for activities in contaminated areas (TRGS 524)
- ↑ Technical rule for hazardous substances 519, asbestos: demolition, renovation or maintenance work (TRGS 519)
