Level 1, Minimum standards
Organisational and hygiene measures that always apply, plus the additional Level 1 guidelines for specific tasks.
Level 1 covers the basic organisational and hygiene measures that are not tied to a specific activity but apply to the entire work area. They should always be implemented and documented. Awareness and motivation are critical here: employees need to recognise their own habits and adjust them, otherwise even the best procedure will fail in practice.
In addition to the universal measures, the 100 series includes guidelines that describe minimum standards for specific tasks. Depending on the workplace, you may still need to add Level 2 or Level 3 measures on top.
Minimum standards
These guidelines apply across the whole work area.
| No. | Title |
|---|---|
| 100 | Natural ventilation, minimum standards |
| La-101 | Provision and storage, minimum standards |
| 110 | Organisational and hygiene measures, "Inhalation", minimum standards |
| 120 | Organisational and hygiene measures, "Skin", minimum standards |
| PC-170 | Fire protection measures, minimum standards |
Additional Level 1 guidelines
These cover specific situations that still sit inside Level 1 but go beyond the universal hygiene baseline.
What "minimum standards" means in practice
Even at Level 1, the EMKG expects a documented baseline:
- A current inventory of hazardous substances on site, with safety data sheets accessible to anyone working with them.
- Substitution checks: every product is reviewed for a less hazardous alternative before it enters routine use.
- General ventilation that keeps the work area within the limits of the TRGS 500 baseline.
- Skin protection, hand hygiene, and eating/drinking rules clearly communicated to staff.
- Fire protection basics: housekeeping, ignition source control, and signposted escape routes.
These five points map directly onto the guidelines listed above. If any of them is missing from your workplace, start there before you move on to Level 2.