The amended hazardous substances ordinance (GefStoffV) considers risk assessment based on the occupational health and safety act to be the central instrument for the determination and assessment of risks concerning activities with hazardous substances.

A systematic safety inspection method intended for risk assessment was also described in TRGS 300 (1995).

Given that a range of basic conditions have changed, the fundamentals of TRGS 300 (1995) have been revised in this research report. TRGS 300 (1995) has then been integrated as an extended safety inspection method into a suggestion for an adapted approach to performing risk assessment in accordance with GefStoffV (2005).

Mindful that users also expect legal certainty, the approach is geared towards the system laid down in GefStoffV (2005) and takes into account potenzial mitigating factors provided by a supplied hazard analysis, the "Easy-to-use workplace control scheme for hazardous substances" of the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and interfaces to the ordinance on industrial safety and health (BetrSichV) and the hazardous incident ordinance (StörfallV).

The suggested revisions to the fundamental data underpinning TRGS 300 (1995), safety principles and safety requirements include notable amendments in the areas of "labour organization", "influences relating to human factors" and "retrospective information", and in the view of the authors represent a sound basis for a final discussion for the revision of TRGS 300 (1995) and its possible integration in an approach to conducting risk assessment in accordance with GefStoffV (2005).

The adapted approach to risk assessment was tested using an example installation and an evaluation at 5 chemical industry sites. The example installation and the evaluation demonstrated the suitability of the suggestion to fulfil the requirements of GefStoffV (2005) systematically and with an appropriate level of time and effort.

Please download the complete report "Fundamentals for the redefinition of a technical rule 'safety technology'" (in German only).