Simplified labelling of laboratory containers
The DGUV has developed a simplified system for storage bottles in laboratories, taking into account the new labelling system in line with the CLP regulation.
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New labels for chemical products - do you know what they mean?
European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures came into force on 20 January 2009 in all EU Member States, including the UK. It is known by its abbreviated form, ‘ the
CLP Regulation’ or just plain ‘CLP’. The CLP Regulation adopts the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System on the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) across all European Union countries, including the UK. With a new pocket card reminder of the new CLP label pictograms, you can make sure that you can always understand the label. The GHS/CLP Memo card includes all the new CLP pictograms, together with simple, concise information and advice. Sized to fit easily in your pocket or your wallet, ready for whenever you need it.
List of MAK and BAT Values 2015: Maximum Concentrations and Biological Tolerance Values at the Workplace
List of MAK and BAT Values 2014: Maximum Concentrations and Biological Tolerance Values at the Workplace
MAK values (Maximum Concentrations at the Workplace) and BAT values (Biological Tolerance Values) promote the protection of health at the workplace. They are an efficient indicator for the toxic potential of chemical compounds.
The German List of MAK and BAT Values 2014 contains a list of scientifically recommended threshold limit values for more than 1000 chemical compounds. Carcinogens, germ cell mutagens, embryo toxicants, sensitizing substances and those potentially bearing a risk to pregnancy are treated separately. Of particular value are the lists of substances which were reviewed in the past 12 months, including substances being examined for the establishment of MAK and BAT values in coming years.
The MAK-Collection for Occupational Health and Safety
Comprehensive, authoritative:
The nearly 3,000 publications by the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (German MAK-Commission) provide essential information on hazardous compounds at the workplace. Threshold values and classifications for more than 1,000 substances are given, along with toxicological evaluations and recommended monitoring methods. The MAK-Collection is regularly updated with new information.
Free use for everyone, everywhere:
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) supports global open access to the online editions of the complete publications of the MAK Commission in English and in German language on Wiley Online Library, including all future updates and additions. The MAK-Collection combines four individual series in two languages The online edition of the MAK-Collection includes the publications of four serial publications in two languages, English and German:
1. MAK Value Documentations / Gesundheitsschädliche Arbeitsstoffe. Toxikologisch-arbeitsmedizinische Begründungen von MAK-Werten und Einstufungen.
2. BAT Value Documentations / Biologische Arbeitsstoff-Toleranz-Werte, Expositionsäquivalente für krebserzeugende Arbeitsstoffe, Biologische Leitwerte und Biologische Arbeitsstoff-Referenzwerte. Arbeitsmedizinisch-toxikologische Begründungen.
3. Air Monitoring Methods / Analytische Methoden zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe. Luftanalysen.
4. Biomonitoring Methods / Analytische Methoden zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe. Analysen in biologischem Material.
All substance-specific documents can be browsed via the substance name. Substance names include metabolites where appropriate and are grouped by series and by language. Within each category, documents are listed in chronological order. For easier reference, series name and publication year are included in the title, e.g. Acetone [MAK Value Documentation, 1996]. Where applicable, a Substance Overview document is provided that contains a summary of important substance parameters, including toxicological classifications and threshold values set by the commission. Publications on general topics and supporting information can be found under the headings General Information and Supplementary Information. A versatile product search aids retrieval of the information. Substance names in English or German, including synonyms, and CAS numbers may all be used to locate articles of interest. Articles which are relevant for more than one substance include a link list to other relevant substances at the bottom of the article. In addition to the html documents for online viewing, printable pdf documents in the same layout as in the printed editions are available for all articles.
GESTIS-database on hazardous substances Information system on hazardous substances of the German Social Accident Insurance
The GESTIS-Substance Database contains information for the safe handling of hazardous substances and other chemical substances at work, e.g. health effects, necessary protective measures and such in case of danger (incl. First Aid). Furthermore, the user is offered information upon important physical and chemical properties as well as special regulations e.g. GHS classification and labelling according to CLP regulation (pictograms, H phrases, P phrases) and according to the old system (hazard symbols, R phrases). The available information relates to about 8,500 substances. Data is updated immediately after publication of new official regulations or after the issue of new scientific results in the end.
Publisher
The GESTIS-Substance Database is maintained by the Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance). The GESTIS database information on occupational medicine and first aid is compiled by Prof. Dr. Heberer and his team (TOXICHEM, Leuna).
Use and Liability
The information may be used for the purpose of workers’ protection, or to gain knowledge about risks emanating from chemical substances. Commercial use as well as a partial or complete transfer to other information systems is not permitted. There are no objections against citing of data to a limited extent giving the source “GESTIS – substance database”. The data of GESTIS database are compiled and updated carefully. Nevertheless, any liability is excluded. Structure of the GESTIS – Substance database Identification (Name and synonyms, Identification numbers, Substance characterization, Formula) Toxicology/Ecotoxicology (Toxicological Data, Ecotoxicological Data) Physical and chemical properties (Basic data (melting point, boiling point, density, vapour pressure), Burn- und explosion data (flash point, ignition temperature, explosion limits), Solubility behaviour (solubility in water, pH-value, partition coefficient), Hazardous reactions (decomposition temperature, decompositon products, hazardous chemical reactions).
Occupational health and first aid (Routes of exposure, Toxic effects, First aid).
Handling and usage (Usage, Technical measures (Handling, Storage, Fire and explosion protection), Organisational measures, Personal protection (Body protection, Respiratory protection, Eye protection, Hand protection, Skin protection, Industrial hygiene), Disposal considerations, Accidental release measures, Firefighting measures).
Regulations (GHS-Classification according to regulation (EC) 1272/2008 or by manufacturer, Classification according to Directive 67/548/EEC or by manufacturer, Workplace labelling, German water pollution class, Technical instruction of air pollution prevention (TA Luft), German threshold limit values (TRGS 900), TRGS 905 Classification of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity, Recommendations of MAKCommission, German biological
exposure indices (BAT), German ordinance of failure, Further regulations).
GESTIS - International limit values for chemical agents
This database contains a collection of occupational limit values for hazardous substances gathered from various EU member states, Australia, Canada (Ontario and Québec), Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States as of August 2013. Limit values of more than 1,700 substances are listed. The chemical names of the substances were adopted from the nomenclature as used in the original sources for national limit values. Thus, for retrieval of substances, the use of CAS numbers is strongly recommended. For synonyms of the chemical names given, please refer to e. g. GESTIS substance database.
GESTIS - Scientific Criteria Documents
In Germany, scientific criteria documents for the level of national workplace limit values and the body of data according to which hazardous substances are classified are not collected and published centrally. Instead, the relevant texts are to be found in a variety of loose-leaf collections, series of publications, or on the Internet. The GESTIS database of scientific criteria documents provides bibliographical information and links to the sources explaining the reasoning for the derivation of substance-specific atmospheric limit values and the classification of working agents as “carcinogenic”, “mutagenic”, “reprotoxic” or “sensitising”. The database is not limited to substances which are currently classified in the Federal Republic of Germany or for which a workplace limit value currently exists; it extends to all substances the atmospheric limit values of which have been 11 removed from the body of German regulations since 2005 in the wake of revision of the regulation governing hazardous substances. The reasons for abolition of the atmospheric limit values concerned are stated. Finally, the GESTIS database of scientific criteria documents provides references to other overview documents, primarily in German, which contain comprehensive information on toxicology and occupational medicine with regard to the relevant substances.
Publisher
The GESTIS database of scientific criteria documents is produced and maintained by the Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Geszlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance).
Substance Abuse and Addiction
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers the Health Finder, which promotes better health through education and awareness. Furthermore, the Addiction Resource raises awareness on the dangers of addiction, provides people with valuable and verifiable information on substances abuse and addiction recovery, as well as directs to the different sources of help and supports better well-being as well as the self-improvement of a person. Another helpful web resource that provides information and support to people fighting substance abuse and addiction is https://www.drugrehab.com. It is provided by Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS), which is an integrated behavioral health care management organization dedicated to the treatment of addiction, substance abuse, eating disorders and mental health issues.