Display activities with asbestos on a company-specific basis

If you carry out activities involving materials containing asbestos, you must notify the competent authority in advance. In a stationary workplace or in the case of low or medium risk in a changing workplace, a company-related notification is possible.

Asbestos is a carcinogenic hazardous substance. Companies and private individuals are not permitted to manufacture, use or process materials containing asbestos.

Exemptions apply for the following purposes:

• Demolition work
• renovation work
• maintenance work, except for
  • fixed coverings, superstructures or elevations on asbestos cement roofs, asbestos cement wall and ceiling cladding, floor coverings containing asbestos
  • Cleaning and coating work on asbestos cement roofs that are not fully coated and exterior wall cladding made of asbestos cement
• Research, analysis and testing work

If you as a company wish to carry out this work and materials containing asbestos are involved, you must notify the relevant health and safety authority before starting the work.

Only companies are obliged to notify.

The notification can be company-related or object-related.

• You can submit company-related notifications for stationary or temporary workplaces. Your activities must be in the area of low or medium risk.
• You must submit object-related notifications for changing workplaces (construction sites) if you carry out activities in the high-risk area.

You submit the company-related notification to the competent authority.

You must also send a copy of the notification to the responsible statutory accident insurance institution. Before you start working with asbestos, you must determine whether you must comply with low, medium or high risk protective measures.

In Germany, the risk of asbestos exposure in buildings is divided into three categories:

• low risk: asbestos fiber dust exposure below 10,000 fibers per cubic meter
• medium risk: asbestos fiber dust exposure between 10,000 and 100,000 fibers per cubic meter
• high risk: asbestos fiber dust exposure over 100,000 fibers per cubic meter

In the following cases, you must submit a supplementary notification of place and time:

• Your work involves activities with asbestos-containing materials in the medium risk range, i.e. airborne asbestos fiber exposure between 10,000 and 100,000 fibers per cubic meter.
• In certain cases: You carry out recognized low-emission processes.

You must submit the following documents - you can use the sample forms in accordance with the Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances - Asbestos, Demolition, Renovation or Maintenance Work (TRGS) 519 of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA):

• completed notification according to the sample in Annex 1.1 of TRGS 519
• Risk assessment/work plan according to the sample in Annex 1.4 of TRGS 519
• Operating instructions according to the sample in Annex 1.6 and 1.7 TRGS 519
• Proof of competence of the supervising person in accordance with Annex 3 or 4 TRGS 519
• If applicable: Location and time in accordance with Annex 1.2.

• At least one competent person authorized to issue instructions is present on site during the work.
• All employees involved have basic knowledge of asbestos; they can obtain this in a training course.
• They ensure that all employees who work with asbestos-containing materials undergo mandatory occupational health screening before starting work.

You must notify your company of activities involving materials containing asbestos at least 7 days before starting work.

In urgent cases, the competent authority may agree to shorten the deadline.