DE DGUV Inspection Campaign
Last update January 20, 2026
Overview
Related carcinogens:
BenzeneType of intervention(s):
Inspection campaignNumber of inspections undertaken:
Multiple, in the period of 2016-2018
Scope of intervention
Key duties
Duties under CMRD reviewed.
Focus of the Campaign
- Workplace air measurements of benzene as compound of gasoline to determine the current state of exposition situations in workshops for motor driven gardening tools
- Measurement of the benzene content in Super90 gasoline and comparison to the actual legal regulation
- Investigation of the protective measurements maintained by the workshops in relation to protect their employees against benzene containing gasoline fumes and skin contact to gasoline as liquid
Key findings of intervention
Positive findings
- It was possible to set up an extensive catalogue of small but effective protective measures which are easy to implement for the workshops even with little budget.
- The 95. Percentile of 0.65 mg/m³ is 80 % below the current EU BOELV for benzene of 3.25 mg/m³ (which will be lowered to 1.65 mg/m³ after 05.04.2024).
- Benzene containing gasoline can be easily substituted by benzene free alkylate based petrol.
Negative findings
-
In about 70 % of the workshops, the benzene concentration in the air exceeds the German national (lower) limit value of 0.2 mg/m³ (Akzeptanzkonzentration) which is related to a risk of 4:10,000 to develop occupational cancer due to this exposition.
- The substitution of gasoline by alkylate based petrol as fuel for motor driven gardening tools cannot be performed by the workshop businesses themselves since the tools are fueled by their owners who take the tools as customers to the workshops to get them maintained or fixed. Legal 1. In about 70 % of the workshops, the benzene concentration in the air exceeds the German national (lower) limit value of 0.2 mg/m³ (Akzeptanzkonzentration) which is related to a risk of 4:10,000 to develop occupational cancer due to this exposition.
Key outcomes following intervention
Workshops for motor driven gardening tools should encouraged their customers to fuel their tools with alkylate based petrol instead of benzene containing gasoline. The workshops should be encouraged and supported to establish as much of these small protective measurements as possible to lower their inhalative and dermal benzene exposition to a minimum.
Level and type of enforcement issued
- Verbal advice
- Written advice
- Improvement notice
Measurement reports were also included
Images
