The planned renaming of the Industrial Safety Ordinance to the “Work Equipment Use Ordinance” as well as the introduction of the new Ordinance on Installations Requiring Monitoring (ÜAnlV) are intended to provide greater clarity—but could have exactly the opposite effect due to some contradictory terms and new regulations. It is important to avoid complications.

The protection of employees, consumers, and the environment is a central concern of German industry. At the same time, safe production processes and efficient value chains are crucial prerequisites for the competitiveness of Germany’s industrial base. Occupational safety and health (OSH) and chemical policy make a significant contribution to this. They provide the regulatory framework for the safe handling of substances and the operation of work equipment and industrial installations. These regulations are intended to help companies in managing risks effectively and implementing innovation responsibly.

Since 2022, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has been discussing a proposal for a broad restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the REACH Regulation. Despite the amendments made to the restriction proposal following an extensive public consultation, industry remains critical of the broad approach. In its current form, the restriction would have significant impacts on value chains as well as on the innovation and competitiveness of many industrial sectors.