New chemical safety rules reduce employers' administrative burden

New rules concerning hazardous chemicals in the working environment have been in force since 16 May. From now on, the occupational health and safety requirements relating to the use of hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive toxicants, are set out in one regulation instead of the previous three regulations.

The employer's administrative burden will decrease
The new regulation removed several requirements that previously applied to companies. For example, employers no longer have to retain the results of laboratory measurements of the working environment for 40 years, as these are part of the risk assessment. The requirement to notify the Labour Inspectorate 30 days before starting work with carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxicants for the first time will also disappear. In future, employers will be required to submit data to the Labour Inspectorate on the handling of carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive toxicants (employer data, list of substances used, list of work processes, quantities used, number of employees exposed, list of safety measures) only at the Labour Inspectorate's request.

Blood lead level standards are stricter
The amendments brought the biological monitoring and health surveillance requirements relating to lead and its compounds into line with the European Union directive. A calendar-based system is replaced by a system based on risks and actual measurements, while at the same time significantly stricter permissible limit values are established for blood lead levels.

In future, regular biological monitoring (determining blood lead levels by absorption spectrometry or an equivalent method) will be mandatory for employees exposed to lead and its compounds. Under the new regulation, the biological limit value for lead in blood is 0.3 mg/L.

The occupational health doctor must check an employee's health in any case in the following situations:

• if the lead content in the air of the working environment exceeds 15 μg/m³ (calculated as a time-weighted average over a 40-hour week);
• if the employee's blood lead level exceeds 0.09 mg/L;
• even more strictly for female employees of childbearing age – if the blood lead level exceeds 0.045 mg/L.

The regulation also sets out a transitional rule: if an employee's blood lead level exceeds the new limit value due to exposure that occurred before 16 May 2026 (but remains below 0.7 mg/L), the employer is obliged to suspend such work and organise regular health surveillance.

The regulation that entered into force on 16 May can be accessed HERE.