(in German)

Limit values for hazardous substances have an important function in the assessment of conditions at the workplace. At the European level, occupational exposure limit values are derived as indicative limit values or binding limit values on the basis of the Chemical Agents Directive and the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive. With the entry into force of the REACH Regulation, a new group of assessment standards for workplaces was added. The new assessment standards are known as Derived No Effect Levels (DNELs). These are exposure limit values that protect human health if complied with. The interaction of both legal areas (occupational safety and health (OSH) and REACH) in setting limit values was initially unclear. The article explains the history and current status of the link between REACH and OSH. The focus here is on setting limit values themselves and linking them with other regulatory measures for the protection of employees in activities involving hazardous chemicals.

This article is published in the Journal "Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft", Volume 79, Issue 11-12, pp. 403-407.

Please download the article "Setting limit values in the EU – REACH and occupational safety and health grow together" (in German only).