Hazardous substances appear in different forms and concentrations and also pose different hazards to you and your employees. The limit values which must be determined for each hazardous substance are individually specified in the OEL (Occupational Exposure Limits) lists.

When the new Hazardous Instances Act came into force in January 2005, the limit value terms 'MAK,' 'TRK' and 'BAT' were eliminated and replaced by Occupational Limit Value (‘OLV’ German: AGW). Protection levels for respiratory protection devices are expressed as a multiple of the limit value.

The occupational limit value (OLV) indicates at what level of concentration hazardous substances are not expected to pose acute or chronic damage to human health.
The former 'BOT' value (Biological Occupational Tolerance) has now given way to the biological limit value. The biological limit value indicates the hazardous substance concentration at which the health of a user is not endangered.

You are welcome to refer to the Dräger VOICE hazardous substance database to determine the limit values of a wide range of contaminants so that you can protect yourself based on the limit values applicable to where you work.