Have your say on proposed explosives regulations
HSE launches eight-week consultation on consolidation of safety legislation for explosives
THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a public consultation on new regulations that will simplify and consolidate the safety legislation for explosives.
The consolidated set of regulations (referred to as the Explosives Regulations 2014 (ER 2014)) cover the safety of workers and the public when manufacturing, handling and storing explosives. They also include European requirements in relation to product safety.
The HSE is seeking views from businesses and stakeholders through an eight-week public consultation that ends on 24 September 2013. The consultative document and details of how to respond to the consultation are available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd256.htm
Peter Brown, head of HID Major Hazard Policy, said: ‘The draft regulations consolidate, modernize, and, where practicable, simplify the current legislative arrangements. They will aid clarity and reduce burdens on industry without reducing safety standards. The new regulations will encompass elements of one Act, 10 pieces of secondary legislation and 15 exemption certificates.’
As part of the consolidation, ER 2014 will remove duplicate provisions in existing legislation and minimize potential confusion by producing a single set of common definitions.
As a result of the consolidation, HSE will produce a new suite of overarching guidance identifying the principles of safe and secure operation, supplemented by sub-sector specific guidance. It is intended that these will replace the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 and the current explosive guidance.
Subject to the outcome of the consultation and ministerial approval, the consolidated Regulations will come into effect from October 2014.
