Hazardous substances — GefStoffV, REACH and AwSV (Germany)
A list of checks and obligations with their cadence, ready to add to your agenda.
For companies in Germany that use, store or decant hazardous substances and mixtures, or operate installations handling substances hazardous to water. Covers the hazardous substances inventory (Gefahrstoffverzeichnis), REACH safety data sheets, the chemical risk assessment (Gefährdungsbeurteilung), annual instruction (Unterweisung), operating instructions, TRGS 510 storage and the periodic AwSV expert inspections. Does not cover dangerous goods transport, the Seveso regime or explosion protection in the strict sense.
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What it already has at hand
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- 8 planned checks, the most frequent every 12 months from installation
Planned checks
Informative summary verified on 11/09/2026. It does not replace legal advice: the regulation cited prevails. If you spot an error, report it.
Some checks are only mandatory in certain countries: pick yours and the list follows.
- 01
Obtain and keep safety data sheets up to date (REACH)
The supplier of a hazardous substance or mixture provides the recipient with a safety data sheet in the Annex II format, updates it without delay when new information emerges and sends the updated version free of charge to all recipients supplied in the preceding 12 months. For the downstream user the evidence is the archive of current German-language sheets, which feeds the risk assessment and the operating instructions. Applies to suppliers, distributors and downstream users throughout the European Union; in Germany the sheet must be drawn up in German.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Art. 31 and Annex IIEuropean Union onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
- 01
Obtain and keep safety data sheets up to date (REACH)
The supplier of a hazardous substance or mixture provides the recipient with a safety data sheet in the Annex II format, updates it without delay when new information emerges and sends the updated version free of charge to all recipients supplied in the preceding 12 months. For the downstream user the evidence is the archive of current German-language sheets, which feeds the risk assessment and the operating instructions. Applies to suppliers, distributors and downstream users throughout the European Union; in Germany the sheet must be drawn up in German.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Art. 31 and Annex IIEuropean Union onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
- 01
Write operating instructions for hazardous substances
For every activity with hazardous substances the employer prepares a written operating instruction in understandable language, stating hazards, protective measures, PPE, emergency behaviour and disposal. It must be accessible at the workplace and reviewed before each instruction cycle together with the risk assessment; the evidence is the set of operating instructions posted or available. Applies to every company with activities involving hazardous substances; the reference template is the one in TRGS 555.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationGefStoffV § 14 Abs. 1Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 02
Draw up and keep the chemical risk assessment current
Before work starts the employer assesses in writing the hazards of activities with hazardous substances, checks substitution, defines protective measures and documents compliance with limit values. The assessment must be reviewed regularly and updated immediately on significant changes, new information or health surveillance results; the evidence is the signed document. Applies to every employer with activities involving hazardous substances, even with a single employee, and the documentation is mandatory regardless of company size.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationGefStoffV § 6 i.V.m. ArbSchG §§ 5, 6Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 03
Have the follow-up inspection one year after commissioning
In addition to the inspection before commissioning, Annex 5 AwSV requires a follow-up inspection of filling and handling areas after one year of operation, to be carried out by the same approved expert. The evidence is the second inspection report; it is worth having the expert confirm at the initial inspection whether the area falls under this duty. Applies to the filling and handling areas listed in Annex 5 AwSV; for other types of installation no general follow-up inspection is required.
every 12 months from installationLegal obligationAwSV Anlage 5 (Nachprüfung nach einjähriger Betriebszeit)Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 04
Keep the hazardous substances inventory up to date
The employer keeps an inventory of all hazardous substances used, with name, classification or hazardous properties, quantity ranges held on site and the areas where employees can be exposed, cross-referenced to the safety data sheet. The inventory must be updated whenever a new product arrives, not just once a year, and must remain accessible to employees. Not required where the company carries out only low-exposure activities under the GefStoffV; in every other case it is mandatory.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationGefStoffV § 6 Abs. 12 (Gefahrstoffverzeichnis)Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 05
Obtain and keep safety data sheets up to date (REACH)
The supplier of a hazardous substance or mixture provides the recipient with a safety data sheet in the Annex II format, updates it without delay when new information emerges and sends the updated version free of charge to all recipients supplied in the preceding 12 months. For the downstream user the evidence is the archive of current German-language sheets, which feeds the risk assessment and the operating instructions. Applies to suppliers, distributors and downstream users throughout the European Union; in Germany the sheet must be drawn up in German.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Art. 31 and Annex IIEuropean Union onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 06
Instruct employees on hazardous substances every year
Instruction takes place before work starts and thereafter at least once a year, orally and specific to the workplace, and includes the occupational medical advice required by the same provision. Content and date must be recorded in writing and confirmed by the signatures of those instructed; the evidence is the signed instruction record. Applies to all employees carrying out activities with hazardous substances, including agency workers and new hires, for whom instruction precedes the start of work.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationGefStoffV § 14 Abs. 2Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 07
Have AwSV installations inspected by an approved expert
Installations handling substances hazardous to water that are subject to inspection must be checked by an approved expert according to the dates and intervals of Annex 5 for areas outside protection zones: the standard interval is 5 years, runs from the completion of the previous inspection and may be met by the end of the due month, while 10 years applies only to certain class-B filling and handling areas. The evidence is the expert's inspection report together with the installation documentation. Applies to installations classified in hazard classes A to D under § 39 AwSV (heating oil tanks, storage tanks, decanting areas, filling installations); in water protection zones and flood risk areas the shorter intervals of Annex 6 apply.
every 60 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationAwSV § 46 i.V.m. Anlage 5 (Anlage 6 in Schutzgebieten)Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 08
Check hazardous substance storage against TRGS 510
§ 8 GefStoffV requires hazardous substances to be kept and stored so that they endanger neither health nor the environment, with a ban on containers that could be mistaken for food, separation from food, medicines and feed, tidiness, labelling and controlled access for acutely toxic substances; TRGS 510 sets out maximum quantities, segregation rules, ventilation and bunding. The evidence is the storage concept annexed to the risk assessment together with the store checklists, reviewed once a year alongside the risk assessment. Applies above the TRGS 510 threshold quantities; below them the general GefStoffV requirements apply, while storage in fixed installations follows BetrSichV and AwSV.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationTRGS 510 (Lagerung von Gefahrstoffen in ortsbeweglichen Behältern) i.V.m. GefStoffV § 8Germany onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
In Switzerland this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
- 01
Obtain and keep safety data sheets up to date (REACH)
The supplier of a hazardous substance or mixture provides the recipient with a safety data sheet in the Annex II format, updates it without delay when new information emerges and sends the updated version free of charge to all recipients supplied in the preceding 12 months. For the downstream user the evidence is the archive of current German-language sheets, which feeds the risk assessment and the operating instructions. Applies to suppliers, distributors and downstream users throughout the European Union; in Germany the sheet must be drawn up in German.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Art. 31 and Annex IIEuropean Union onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
In United Kingdom this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
- 01
Obtain and keep safety data sheets up to date (REACH)
The supplier of a hazardous substance or mixture provides the recipient with a safety data sheet in the Annex II format, updates it without delay when new information emerges and sends the updated version free of charge to all recipients supplied in the preceding 12 months. For the downstream user the evidence is the archive of current German-language sheets, which feeds the risk assessment and the operating instructions. Applies to suppliers, distributors and downstream users throughout the European Union; in Germany the sheet must be drawn up in German.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Art. 31 and Annex IIEuropean Union onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
- 01
Obtain and keep safety data sheets up to date (REACH)
The supplier of a hazardous substance or mixture provides the recipient with a safety data sheet in the Annex II format, updates it without delay when new information emerges and sends the updated version free of charge to all recipients supplied in the preceding 12 months. For the downstream user the evidence is the archive of current German-language sheets, which feeds the risk assessment and the operating instructions. Applies to suppliers, distributors and downstream users throughout the European Union; in Germany the sheet must be drawn up in German.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Art. 31 and Annex IIEuropean Union onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
In United States this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Other country this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
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