HSC to consult on amendment to control of substances hazardous to health regulations

Citation

(2003), "HSC to consult on amendment to control of substances hazardous to health regulations", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 32 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2003.12932bab.008

HSC to consult on amendment to control of substances hazardous to health regulations

HSC to consult on amendment to control of substances hazardous to health regulations

Keywords: Hazardous materials, Health and safety

The health and safety Commission (HSC) have published a consultative document setting out proposals for making two significant changes to the forthcoming control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations 2002.

Users of substances classified by the European Union as Category 1 or 2 mutagens – substances that may cause heritable genetic defects – will have to apply the control measures that COSHH requires for carcinogens – substances which can cause cancer. The change implements part of the EUs 2nd Amendment to the 1990 Carcinogens Directive which extends the scope of the original directive to include the mutagens concerned.

In practice, this will only affect the users of a substance known as triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) because it is the only mutagen not already classified as a carcinogen. TGIC is used most commonly as a curing agent in powder coating paints applied to industrial and household products, such as car parts, washing machines and refrigerators as well as architectural finishes, and as a solder mask in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. In most cases, the main impact on employers will be the need to clean regularly and whenever necessary, floors, walls and other workplace surfaces in areas where preparations containing TGIC are used.

The second change proposed in the consultative document would clarify the status of 17 “dioxins” by explicitly defining them as carcinogens. These substances, which are unwanted by-products of some industrial processes, have various toxic effects including carcinogenicity. On the advice of its Advisory Committee on toxic substances, HSC is recommending the reclassification in order that the stricter requirements in the COSHH Regulations for carcinogens will also be applied to the dioxins.

Workers in the aluminium recycling industry are the main occupational group with the potential for significant exposure to dioxins. The proposed change to COSHH would complement new guidance on dioxins for this sector, which the Health Safety Executive (HSE) expects to publish early this year.

HSE has prepared a preliminary regulatory impact assessment for the proposed changes and this is included in the consultative document.

Respondents had been given 10 January 2003 as the last date to submit comments on the consultative document’s proposals. Following consideration of the responses, and subject to the agreement of the HSC and Ministers, the proposed amendments to COSHH would come into force by the end of April 2003.

For further information, visit the Web site at: www.hse.gov.uk/condocs/index.htm