Indoor workplaces - Procedure for the investigation of the working environment

Status:

completed 12/2025

Aims:

The 2013 indoor workplaces report is now outdated in many respects, particularly with regard to regulations, rules and assessment values and requires revision. So far, the various topics, such as odour, buildings and facilities, noise, indoor climate, ionising radiation and chemical and biological agents, have been explained in detail, for example with an introduction to the topic concerned, investigations, assessment, regulations and rules, measures and particular considerations.

While the detailed chapters result in a comprehensive report, parts of it will quickly become outdated. The intention is now to streamline the indoor workplaces report by reducing it to a recommendation for action in connection with problems in the indoor environment. Further information for in-depth study of a topic and references to current regulations and rules will be made available only on the "Indoor Workplaces" pages of the IFA website.

Activities/Methods:

The updated report now takes the form of an action guide, focusing on topics such as an essential and general procedure for addressing complaints by employees, and a brief introduction to the various topics, and particular aspects that should be considered in cases of indoor problems.

In addition to the update of existing topics (see above), new topics have been included, such as vibrations in buildings, and allergens. Current limit, guideline and reference values, as well as other assessment criteria are made available on the indoor workplaces portal (see above), and updated regularly. Following the update of the indoor workplaces report, the indoor workplaces portal will be revised accordingly. An expert working group, comprising representatives of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions, the Institute of Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the DGUV (IPA), the Institute for Work and Health of the DGUV (IAG) and the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA), was formed and tasked with updating the indoor workplaces report.

Results:

The indoor workplaces report has not only been updated, it has also been expanded to include new topics. The topic of "mental stress" has been moved to the beginning of the report, thereby giving it much greater emphasis. The fourth and fully revised recommended procedure aims to enable its users to start an initial assessment of the work situation themselves, with the aid of questionnaires and checklists, and then to take appropriate measures based upon the results. The OSH professional and the occupational physician are to be involved from the outset. This is intended to reduce the frequently unnecessarily early involvement of measurement services, and to relieve the workload on the labour inspectors of the responsible accident insurance institutions.

The indoor workplaces portal will be updated. As a modern means of knowledge transfer, it should serve as a clear and easily understandable source of information that is kept up to date with regard to assessment criteria and new developments. The IR1 indoor workplaces seminar concept will also be revised accordingly and adapted to the new indoor workplace report.

Last Update: