TRGS vs. TRBA. What's the difference?

The abbreviations "TRBA" (Technical Rules for Biological Agents) and "TRGS" (Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances) stand for regulations in the field of occupational safety and health protection in Germany.

The TRBA are technical rules that specifically deal with biological agents They reflect the state of the art, occupational medicine and occupational hygiene as well as other verified scientific findings for activities involving biological substances and are binding in this sense in the laboratory . They are Committee for Biological Agents (ABAS) They are determined or adapted according to developments and published by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) in the Joint Ministerial Gazette (GMBI). They contain requirements and recommendations for the safe handling of biological agents, such as bacteria (TRBA 466), viruses (TRBA 462), or fungi (460). Their goal is to protect the health of employees from hazards posed by biological agents.

The TRGS are technical rules that deal with the handling and storage of hazardous substances in laboratories/companies. They provide the state of the art, occupational medicine and occupational hygiene as well as verified scientific findings for activities involving hazardous substances, including their Classification and labeling again. You will be Committee for Hazardous Substances (AGS) The TRGS are published by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in the Federal Labor Gazette. TRGS 526 "Laboratories," for example, contains requirements and recommendations for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances in laboratories that, due to their properties, may pose a health hazard or cause environmental pollution. The TRGS serve to protect employees and the environment.

Current overviews of the valid TRBA and TRGS including the published amendments and additions and the resolutions are available on the Homepage of the BAuA for the TRBA and the TRGS published.

Overall, the difference is that TRBA focuses specifically on biological agents, while TRGS generally targets hazardous substances, which may also include chemical substances. Both sets of regulations are important tools for employers to conduct risk assessments and thereby ensure the safety and health of employees.