Dusts are present at virtually all workplaces. Excessive inhalative exposure to dusts may lead to serious diseases of the respiratory tract. It is therefore imperative that workplaces associated with elevated dust exposure be identified, and suitable measures are taken to protect workers.
A report published by the IFA provides a summary overview of occupational exposure to dust within the scope of the German general dust exposure limit (ASGW). The compilation serves as a reference work for the incidence and occurrence, properties and associated health hazards of the dusts concerned.
Over 35,000 items of exposure data relating to workplace measurements from the Measurement system for exposure assessment of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions (MGU) form a key part of the content. The results of the measurements are broken down by sector and working area. The exposure data are supplemented by descriptions of the working method, exposed activities or protective measures. This information is used to produce a register of working areas for preventive activity and retrospective analyses which might also be interesting to other EU countries.
More information
Dr Markus Mattenklott
Chemical and biological hazards
markus.mattenklott@dguv.de
