Hazardous substance measurement at the workplace
As a competent partner in the field of occupational health and safety, we can provide you with comprehensive advice and, with our GSA measuring devices for hazardous substance measurement, we can check the protective measures.
An air sample in the work area provides information on the effectiveness of the occupational safety measures for hazardous substance measurement. Based on the results, we can work with you to revise and improve the existing concept.
What are hazardous substances?
In general, hazardous substances are substances and mixtures that (can) pose a risk to health due to their nature. The easiest way to avoid this risk would be to avoid coming into contact with these substances. However, this is not always possible in everyday working life. There are a large number of professions that cannot avoid this contact because hazardous substances are part of the production process, for example. In such cases, the employer is obliged to carry out a risk assessment, introduce suitable protective measures and prepare comprehensive documentation.
Risk assessment at the workplace
If there is a risk to employees in the company during their working hours, the employer is obliged to draw up a risk assessment. This lists the potential hazards and also contains a list of measures to ensure the protection of the employee. Furthermore, the employer is obliged to create comprehensive documentation and to instruct the employee regularly. Further information on risk assessment can be found in our blog post on occupational health and safety.
Hazardous Substances Ordinance
The Hazardous Substances Ordinance contains various protective measures for substances and mixtures that have hazardous properties. These properties include, for example, explosive, carcinogenic, irritant or highly flammable.
The Hazardous Substances Ordinance can be roughly divided into three points:
- Regulations: Classification, labeling and packaging of hazardous substances
- Measures: Reduction of sources of danger through protective measures that benefit employees and others.
- Restrictions: Restriction of the use of substances in terms of occupational health and safety
Correct handling of hazardous substances
In order to ensure the best possible protection, it is important to adhere to certain rules of conduct when handling hazardous substances. All relevant protective measures must be recorded and documented in the risk assessment. These must be strictly adhered to. For example, personal protective equipment (safety goggles, gloves, etc.) must be worn at the workplace. You can find an overview of the various protective measures in our blog post on Protective measures at the workplace.
What to do in the event of contact with hazardous substances?
First of all, it is important to keep calm and move away from the affected area. All measures are of course always dependent on hazardous substance and the amount of contact. In the case of small quantities of liquid, it is often sufficient to change into protective clothing. If fumes or gases are inhaled, the person affected should be moved to fresh air immediately. In the event of any accident at work, even the smallest one, the supervisor must be informed and a doctor should always be consulted if symptoms arise. All operational steps (e.g. notification of the accident and accident report) can be carried out with the safety officer or the company doctor.
Sources:
[1]: Source Featured image: © Ralf Maassen / 123RF.com
[1]: https://www.arbeitsschutz-portal.de/multimedia/pdf/checkliste-taetigkeiten-mit-gefahrstoffen.pdf
[2]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsgestaltung-im-Betrieb/Gefahrstoffe/Arbeiten-mit-Gefahrstoffen/Arbeiten-mit-Gefahrstoffen_node.html
[3]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsgestaltung-im-Betrieb/Gefahrstoffe/Arbeiten-mit-Gefahrstoffen/Handlungshilfen.html
[4]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsgestaltung-im-Betrieb/Gefahrstoffe/Arbeiten-mit-Gefahrstoffen/Gefahrstoffverordnung/Gefahrstoffverordnung.html
[5]: https://www.arbeitsschutzgesetz.org/gefstoffv/