According to § 6 par. 12 of the German Hazardous Substances Regulation (GEfStoffV), every employer is mandated to maintain a record of all hazardous substances present within their company premises. This encompasses raw materials used in production, as well as day-to-day cleaning agents and disinfectants. This record, often referred to as the hazardous substances cadastre, holds vital details about each substance, including quantities used, the level of hazard posed to employees, and its applications at various workstations. The safety data sheet (SDS) serves as a crucial informational tool in this regard.
The hazardous substances cadastre yields essential information for entrepreneurs. For instance, it informs whether there are exposure limits for workstations or storage, or if protective equipment must be designated for employees at specific workstations.
Maintaining and routinely updating a hazardous substances cadastre is a fundamental requirement for every company under labor protection law. This responsibility should be managed by a person with professional expertise, who doesn't necessarily have to be an in-house employee. We manage the hazardous substances cadastre for numerous companies, ensuring comprehensive compliance with all statutory requirements. Additionally, we conduct substitution checks to reduce the use of hazardous materials within the company, replacing them with less or non-hazardous alternatives.
