Exposure database MEGA

IFA's exposure database "Measurement data relating to workplace exposure to hazardous substances" (Messdaten zur Exposition gegenüber Gefahrstoffen am Arbeitsplatz" in German) - MEGA is a compilation of data gathered through atmospheric measurements and material analyses. These data provide information on

• the industrial workplace
• the working and manufacturing methods
• the substances used
• the protective measures
• the exposure situation
• the conditions of sampling and chemical analysis.

Data on hazardous chemicals have been compiled in the database since 1972. For a few fields, early archived data were recorded later and measurement values are available here starting from 1962. Since 1998 the documentation includes also data on biological working agents. The data are gathered within the framework of the Measurement system for exposure assessment of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions, the so-called MGU. The MEGA data pool is available to the participating institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention to solve problems of various nature: prevention, epidemiological issues, retrospective considerations in connection with suspected substance-related occupational diseases, determination of pollutant exposure reflecting the state of the art at specific workplaces.

Data pool at the end of 2009

• Number of data records: 2.198 million
• Number of analysed substances:

809 hazardous chemicals
482 biological working agents

• Number of companies: c 54 000
  • 697 sectors
  • 4,432 industrial workplaces
  • 28,522 combinations of sectors and workplaces

There is no direct access for bodies other than those of the institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention.

Editor:

The MEGA exposure database is maintained and evaluated for the institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention by Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance).