• Date 2024-10-08

Help with the prevention of occupational cancer

Cancer is still the main cause of fatal work-related illnesses. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular face challenges when dealing with carcinogenic hazardous substances in the workplace.

The new GDA Best Practice Database at the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) aims to help company practitioners and make a significant contribution to prevention.

The GDA Best Practice Database can be used online free of charge: GDA Best Practice Database https://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gda-best-practice-datenbank/index.jsp.

It bundles examples of how carcinogenic substances are used safely in operational practice. The examples serve as blueprints for other companies and can be easily searched for a wide range of industries, professions, activities and substances. References to regulations, substance databases and other aids on the subject round off the offer. The database is a cooperative project between the IFA, the accident insurance institutions, the federal states, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA).

The database can be searched in various ways: industries, professions, activities, substances or protective measures can be specifically queried. In terms of protective measures, the platform follows the so-called STOP hierarchy, which begins with the substitution of a substance and describes all the options for safe handling via technical, organizational and personal measures.

The platform initially focuses on the twelve most common hazardous substances with carcinogenic potential. They range from asbestos to diesel engine emissions and quartz dust. The database will be continuously expanded to include other hazardous substances.

Sources:

GDA, press release (in German), 08 October 2024 https://www.gda-portal.de/SharedDocs/Meldungen/DE/24-10-08-GDA-Best-Practice-Datenbank

DGUV, press release (in German), 08 October 2024 https://www.dguv.de/de/mediencenter/pm/gda_best-practice.jsp

Further information:

The GDA best practice database (in German) https://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gda-best-practice-datenbank/index.jsp

GDA Work program “Safe handling of carcinogenic hazardous substances” (in German) https://www.gda-portal.de/DE/Betriebe/Krebs-am-Arbeitsplatz