International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC)

German Version

• Contents

  The International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) contain essential information for interacting safely with chemical substances at the workplace. This includes the effects of substances on humans, the required protective measures and the measures that should be applied in accident situations (including first aid). Users are also informed of important physical-chemical data and special legal regulations on the individual substances. The information is aimed at the target groups of employees and employers in manufacturing industries, agriculture, construction and all other industries. The information is summarised on two pages and is also useful for training and continuing education.
  
  The following organisations are involved in the ICSC project in the framework of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS):
  
  

  United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)	International Labour Office (ILO)	World Health Organisation (WHO)	Commission of the European Union

  An international group of institutions from the field of occupational safety and health is to compile the English-language original version of the ICSC. The cards are to be evaluated and updated by this expert group using an intensive peer review process.
  
  Aside from the English-language original version, a number of other language versions of the ICSC are available. They can be accessed, for instance, via the ILO or NIOSH internet sites. The Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA) has been providing the German version since 2004. Aside from translating the information into German, IFA is supplementing the data under the "Additional Information" field with national rules and regulations, eg: on airborne threshold values and water pollution classes. The German ICSC each contain a link to the corresponding data sheet in the GESTIS substance database.
  
  

• Usage and liability

  The safety information is produced at the best current state of our knowledge. But we would point out that the CEC (Commission of the European Communities), the IPCS and the DGUV/IFA are by no means liable for any damages due to incorrect data in this information, no matter on what legal grounds. The International Chemical Safety Cards (ISCS) reflect the commonly shared opinions of the IPCS Peer Review Committee, but are not always in agreement with the contents of applicable national regulations. The applicable rules and regulations in force in each respective country are paramount in every instance.