Specialist databases

GDL is a dangerous-substances information system, set up and maintained by Germany's federal states in cooperation with the "Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften" (German Federation of Institutions for Statutory Acciddent Insurance and Prevention) and the "Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin" (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) within the framework of LASI's GDL "Fachgruppe" group. It contains information on how to handle chemical substances safely at the workplace, e.g. information on the physico-chemical properties of the substances, their effects on humans, the required protective measures and all legal provisions and other regulation. In particular, GDL is intended to assist users at OSH, environmental and health authorities in their enforcement activities.

The GESTIS database of substances is part of the industrial Berufsgenossenschafts' (institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention) dangerous-substances information system and is being created in collaboration with the "Gefahrstoffdatenbank der Länder" (Federal States' Database of Dangerous Substances, abbreviated to GDL in German), which is also now available on the Internet. Users can access information on how to handle chemical substances safely at the workplace, e.g. information on the substances' effects on humans, the required protective measures and action to be taken in the event of a hazard (including first aid).

All of the relevant reported cases of equipment and (technical) products with safety defects are evaluated for IGP and the information is stored in a database.

A password-protected system, IGP lends a helping hand to the authorities responsible for enforcing the "Gerätesicherheitsgesetz" (Equipment Safety Act) and "Produktsicherheitsgesetz" (Product Safety Act).

New market-surveillance method (ICSMS)

ICSMS aims to be the most extensive database of its kind. It is an Internet-based information and communication system for pan-European, cross-border market surveillance in the field of technical products. Collaboration between Europe's market-surveillance authorities makes things difficult for those who bring unsafe products onto the market.

KarLA - Catalogue of Representative Noise and Vibration Data at the Workplace
Landesamt für Arbeitsschutz Potsdam

"KarLA" was developed at the Potsdam "Landesinstitut für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin" (Federal-State Institute for Occupational Safety and Medicine) with the aid of EU funding. As well as the database, KarLA includes a discussion board with a range of topics to choose from. In order to conduct hazard assessments and fulfil the risk-minimisation requirement specified in the "Maschinenverordnung" (Machinery Ordinance) when procuring new work equipment and machinery, companies need up-to-date exposure and comparison data. Whereas the immission values recorded in KarLA are suitable for hazard assessment, the emission data is not. The latter stems from measurements under test conditions, which are not always the same as the conditions of use. It can be of assistance in comparing machinery and identifying machinery with suitable exposure/hazard levels prior to procurement. KarLA contains exposure data on current workplace but also ones which no longer exist. Such data can be helpful for retrospective assessments of occupational activities. If you yourself have data on exposure measurements, you can make it available to all Internet users via KarLA. You can register to be allowed to use the data-import function and then input the data into the database yourself.

Persons involved in assessing the hazards caused by mechanical vibrations need to know the exposure level and the resulting permissible exposure times. This vibration database can also be of assistance to users looking to procure new machinery in that it helps them select especially low-vibration equipment. The database contains the data required by ISO 2631 : 1997, VDI 2057 Part 1 and the EU Physical Agents Directive.

NoRA is a tool which can be used free of charge to search for OSH-related standards. Created by the "Kommission Arbeitsschutz und Normung" (KAN) together with the "Deutsche Industrie Norm" DIN), it enables the user to search a database of standards with OSH-related content. Additional, OSH-related search terms make it possible to search for specific OSH aspects in standards. The database is updated and expanded on a monthly basis. Searches are possible in a maximum of eight different fields (including document number, date of issue, title words, abstract, areas of application and hazards). A direkt link takes users to the Beuth Verlag website, where they can download, for a free, the full versions of the relevant standards.

The BGVR database contains all of the Berufsgenossenschaft regulation (abbreviated to BGV in German) and rules (BGR). It can also be used to view the accident-prevention regulation (UVVs), directives and safety rules (ZH 1) relating to existing machinery and equipment as well as requirements concerning their characteristics.