Sector: -cross sectoral-

Type of hazard: work-related health hazards

Catchwords: working environment (loads, hazards, exposure, risks), chemical working substances, protective measure

Status: completed 06/2004

Financed by: Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften (HVBG), VMBG - Vereinigung der Metall-Berufsgenossenschaften

Research institution(s): Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitsschutz - BIA, VMBG - Vereinigung der Metall-Berufsgenossenschaften

Description, key words:

cooling lubricants, mandatory monitoring, BG/BIA recommendations, limit values

Aims:

Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular seek solutions by which they may fulfil their duty to conduct monitoring under the German Ordinance on Hazardous Substances by assuring observance of the limit value for cooling lubricants of 10 mg/m³. The past strategy involving assessment of individual workplaces and identification of corresponding protective measures has not proved effective. The area under assessment was extended to encompass all sources of emissions within a shop, and protective measures were co-ordinated in a graded concept extending from the shop as a whole down to the individual machine.

Activities/methods:

As part of a special study, comprehensive data measurements were made of the boundary conditions prevailing in metal machining areas. Parallel to these measurements, further measurements were taken for assessment of the exposure in specific working areas and of the background exposure level in the shop. The results of the measurements as a whole were used for the formulation of criteria for the observance of the limit value.

Results:

BG/BIA recommendations have been drafted in the form of a BIA Report, and can be downloaded from the BIA website.

E-Mail: bia@dguv.de

last update: 13.10.2004