DGUV Information 213-705e - Recommendations of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions for a chemical safety assessment ("EGU") in accordance with the Hazardous Substances Ordinance Flour dust in bakeries

According to Section 6 of the "Gefahrstoffverordnung" (German Hazardous Substances Ordinance) 1) companies have to determine the nature and extent of exposure of their employees. This can be achieved by workplace measurements or other, equivalent assessment methods.

The EGU "Flour dust in bakeries" constitute a suitable non-measuring identification method for assessing the exposure arising during the processing of grain flour in bakeries. It can be used in accordance with Sections 6 and 7 of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance to perform a risk assessment and to implement protective measures. Furthermore it may also serve as a useful reference concerning risk assessment in accordance with Section 5 of the "Arbeitsschutzgesetz" (German Occupational safety act) 2) and Section 3 of the "Betriebssicherheitsverordnung" (German Ordinance on industrial safety and health). 3)

However, the use of substances and/or methods representing a lower risk in accordance with the 'Technische Regel für Gefahrstoffe' (Technical rule for hazardous substance) 600 4), observance of the ranking of protective measures, and provision of instruction to employees or operators (etc.) continue to be mandatory.