Almost 1,500 people died from occupational cancer in Germany in 2023. Small and micro-enterprises in particular face major challenges when dealing with carcinogenic hazardous substances. The German Social Accident Insurance provides valuable support in the form of the GDA best practice database.

The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) has developed the database, which provides examples of the safe handling of carcinogenic substances in operational practice. These examples serve as a model for other companies and are available free of charge. It is possible to search by various industries, professions, activities and substances. References to regulations, substance databases and other aids on the subject round off the offer.

The platform will initially focus on the twelve most common hazardous substances with carcinogenic potential, such as asbestos, diesel engine emissions and quartz dust. The database will be continuously expanded to include other hazardous substances.

The platform is a cooperative project between the IFA, the accident insurance institutions, the federal states, the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) as part of the Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy (GDA). In its third period, the GDA has launched the “Safe handling of carcinogenic hazardous substances” work program.

More information on the GDA Best Practice Database can be found on the IFA website.