Ordinance On Hazardous Substances

PCB polychlorinated biphenyls, TBT tributyl tin, CFC chlorofluorocarbons Cf e.g. the substitution principle in the German Ordinance on Hazardous Substances ( 16 and 36). Please refer to Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances TRGS 440 for the recommended procedure of substitution. 

However, exclusively regulation-driven substitution of hazardous substances does not work. Approaches based on general regulations, e.g. the substitution principle contained in the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances, are unable to take action up to the level of small and medium-sized enterprises or crafts users due to structure-related deficits in enforcement. This means that additional driving forces are needed. However, the legally established obhgation of industrial or commer-... 

With regard to dealing with hazardous substances, a great deal has been achieved in the regulative area since the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances came into force in 1986. A clear substitution principle was devised in this ordinance ... 

In September 1998 the RAL Quality Coimnunity on mineral wool, which represents 90% of mineral wool manufacturers, was established on the basis of an sector-wide agreement. It is also the owner of the qnality label mineral wool products and works to promote the diffusion of biosolnble mineral wools (GGM 01). The RAL label on the prodncts signifies easily identifiable information, which at the same time has been verified and continnonsly examined by a nential institution, as to whether a mineral wool product is released as per Annexe V no. 7.1 of the German Ordinance on Hazardous Substances. 

Innovation drivers Artificial mineral fibres were included in Annexe V of the German Ordinance on Hazardous Substances in 1998. In 2000 biopersistent mineral fibres were banned from use in constraction. These regulations, together with the in some cases public discussion of fibres, also provided impulses for substitution by biosolnble fibre materials in silencers. 

In accordance with the transitional regulations in 54 Para. 4 of the German Ordinance on Hazardous Substances biopersistent mineral fibres for use in automotive silencer units are exempted from the substitution obligation in accordance with Annexe V no. 7.2. and the duty of disclosure in accordance with no. 7.3. until October 2003. Concerning the use of fibres in vehicles, this means that an already existing substitute does not have to be used until that time. 

Another indication that the situation is far fiom being safisfactory can be found in the numerous publications that appeared in the context of the discussion of the new (revised) Ordinance on Hazardous Substances Gefahrstqffverordnung), in which the shortcomings of the existing system with r pect to the protection of workers fiom the exposure to dangerous chemicals where discussed in broad detail. 

New limit value concepts from 1 January 2005. Since 1 January 2005, with the new Ordinance on Hazardous Substances coming into force, the former limit value concept (health-based MAK values and technically-based TRK values) underwent a fundamental change. The core piece of the new Ordinance on Hazardous Substances, which transposes the Chemical Agents Directive 98/24/EC into German law, is its risk assessment provisions which - based on specific occupations - will evaluate the physical-chemical risks arising from the various possible exposure routes. 

Legal status of Occupational E sposme Limits. So fer, all limit values are legally binding as soon as adopted by the Committee on Hazardous Substances and published by the Ministry of Labour md Social Affairs. Non-compliance is an infiingement of the law (the Chemical Act) and/or its Ordinance on Hazardous Substances. This will not change in the future. 

The TRGS 553 also determines when the more stringent provisions of the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances foreseen for carcinogens have to be lied when working with wood that contains either oak or beech wood or both. ... 

The Ordinance on Hazardous Substances in conjunction with the Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances (TRGS 402) also lays down how to determine and to assess the airborne concentration of dangerous substances in work areas and whether or not work areas can be exempted fi om exposure measurements. This... 

Research institutes like the Research Institute for Hazardous Substances which offers professional help for enterprises by performing risk assessments according to the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances, have performed workplace atmosphere analyses and control measurements in different sectors of the wood working and wood processing industry. This type of professional help normally includes advice for possible technical measures to reduce exposure. 

Next to the legislation on OELs and BATs, the requirements of the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances apply as well as various other regulations at national level dealing with flammable liquids, water pollution, air pollution,major hazards,storage and transport, protective equipment and ventilation. 

VW is also recognised as a measuring point according to the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances, which means it is entitled to perform its OEL surveillance by its own persoimel and equipment etc. This does not mean that VW can for example only pretend to follow the legal obligations based on the measurements performed by its own body. The measurement point is checked regularly by the state authorities and has to fulfil high standards in order to be considered as such. 

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