April 2024 Edition

ChemRegs Newsletter – April 2024

Updated RIDDOR Guidance

The HSE has updated its online guidance on how and when to submit a report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). There are no changes to legal requirements and the improvements are based on feedback gathered from stakeholders.

Main changes to the guidance include:

  • More direct links to guidance on types of reportable incidents to help you decide whether a report is required;
  • Improved guidance on who should and should not report under RIDDOR;
  • Improved guidance on what is meant by a ‘work-related’ accident;
  • Information on when an occupational disease is not reportable;
  • Increased clarity on when an ‘over-7-day’ absence should be reported.

Main changes to the forms include:

  • Questions about severity of injuries have been front-loaded to help you quickly decide if the incident is reportable;
  • Pop-up messages now redirect the user if the incident is not reportable;
  • Guidance has been improved to make the forms easier to use.

Updated guidance for gas cylinders

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has updated several of its codes of practice, including transporting gas cylinders by road, to bring them up to date with current regulations.

BCGA provide a range of publications providing safety information and advice on best practice as well as guidance on associated legal requirements within the UK. Thse publications are reviewed, and revised, if necessary, at five-yearly intervals, or sooner where the need is recognised, and it is advised to check the BCGA website to ensure that you have the current version.

The updated BCGA Code of Practice 50 Carriage of Gas Cylinders On Vehicles replaces BCGA Guidance Note 27: Revision 2: 2017 and provides guidance on complying with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations. The content of this publication has been reviewed by, and is in line with advice from, the Department for Transport (DfT).

Gas cylinders are commonly used and many thousands are transported every day without incident. To ensure gas cylinders are safe for transport there is specific legislation in place, as well as supporting guidance. The updated BCGA code references the appropriate legislation and sets out best practice for the carriage of gas cylinders.

The revised code has covers the following topics, including:

  • Basic legal and safety requirements;
  • Full compliance with ADR;
  • Roadside inspections;
  • Personal safety;
  • Actions in the event of an incident; and
  • Security measures.

The code also includes a method for calculating the threshold level for a small load exemption based on the quantity of gas cylinders being carried as per ADR 1.1.3.6. In this case, there are some exemptions from ADR. However, ADR still requires that certain essential safety requirements shall be followed, and these are outlined in the code. Any loads that do not meet the small load exemption must comply with all applicable provisions in ADR.

Other publications that have been revised include guidance on the filling of gas cylinders.

Technical Information Sheet 13 – Decanting Gases. Revision 2: 2015 has been withdrawn and has been replaced by BCGA Code of Practice 43 – The safe filling of gas cylinders Revision 2: 2024.

The filling of gas cylinders is hazardous and subject to statutory controls. Cylinders have to be checked to ensure their integrity and that they are safe to fill. Filling has to be carried out at specially equipped centres, with qualified staff using appropriate procedures.

BCGA CP43 – The safe filling of gas cylinders. Revision 2: 2024 and BCGA CP50 The carriage of gas cylinders on vehicles, can be downloaded free of charge from the publications area of the BCGA website.

Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations – Amendment

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has advised that an amendment to the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 is now in place. This allows manufacturers wishing to place pressure equipment on the market to choose whether to have their products conformity assessed by a UK approved body and be ‘UKCA’ marked, or by a European Notified Body and be ‘CE’ marked.

The Pressure Equipment (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 were made on 1 April 2024 and come into force on 22 April 2024.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/490/introduction/made

OPSS also advise that the proposed legislation allowing the placing of CE marked equipment on the GB market ‘indefinitely’ was laid before Parliament on 15 April 2024 and is part of “The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024”. This instrument will be made once it has been debated and approved by both Houses of Parliament.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2024/9780348260311/contents

For more information on anything in this Newsletter, please contact us at info@chemregs.co.uk

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