scope:

This guideline provides the employer with examples, comments and suggestions on ways of complying with statutory provisions relating to occupational health and safety procedures in connection with the release of air pollutants.

The statutory regulations (see Section 2) establish general principles that govern the employer's responsibility for occupational health and safety. In Germany, the legal basis for these is the Industrial Safety Act (ArbSchG). If the activities involve the use of hazardous substances, the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) must also be observed; when using technical manufacturing equipment, also the Industrial Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV). In addition, the Product Safety Act (ProdSG) applies to technical work equipment.

A clearly structured and documented organisation (see Section 3) helps to ensure undisrupted and controllable production processes. All potential disruptions that create a risk must be identified and eliminated in a timely manner. The organisational parameters include quality assurance and management, the purchasing of materials and ingredients, the implementation of industrial safety objectives and staff training. Only in this way production can proceed safely from an organisational perspective.

Furthermore, hazards may be created by released substances (see Section 4). Therefore, the generation and emission of air pollutants during the production process, should be prevented or minimised from the outset through the procedures described in this guideline.

The concentration of hazardous substances in the air at the workplace can be reduced by:

• preventing emissions
• minimising emissions
• ventilation systems

Preventing emissions involves, on the one hand, alternative process controls that do not allow hazardous substances to be created, and on the other, closed process control without releasing the hazardous substances created during the processes (see also Section 5).

Minimising hazardous emissions involves the choice of alternative ingredients and possible alternative process control (see also Section 4).

If the above approaches are insufficient, exposure can be further reduced with the help of ventilation systems. Preferably, this should be implemented through direct capture of the emissions at the point of origination (see also VDI 2262 Part 4). If still insufficient, exposure can be further reduced with the help of room ventilation systems (see also VDI 2262 Part 3). This hierarchy can also be described with the concepts substitute - capture - ventilate.