New REACH chemical regulations

REACH chemical regulations come effective on 1st June.

How any company handling aggressive chemicals should react.

New Regulations for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) come into force on the 1st June 2007.

The key elements of the legislation are: o Rationalisation of the current EU regulatory system for chemicals.

o Carrying forward existing EU restrictions regime and safety data handling system.

o Introduction of new registration and authorisation requirements on manufacturers.

o Transfer of responsibility for initial risk assessments from authorities to industry.

Under existing regulations, risk assessment of chemicals is with the competent authorities.

Under the new regulations, risk assessment is transferred to the manufacturer.

The manufacturer is responsible for carrying out the risk assessment, where appropriate in conjunction with the user.

However in cases where the user does not want to divulge the use of a chemical then the user takes the responsibility for risk assessment.

One of the key risks to anybody handling aggressive chemicals arises in the event of an accidental spill of those chemicals.

Therefore, in addition to the risk assessment of the chemical itself normally provided by the manufacturer, there are two issues companies should address: 1- Risk Assessment in relation to storage, handling and response to spills on site .

2- Spill control measures that maximise personal safety.

Fosse Liquitrol team of spill specialists offer Spill Risk Assessment of your site at no charge.

In addition Fosse Liquitrol has launched a new range of Chemical Neutralising Spill Kits that put personal safety first.

Historically most of the spill kits on the market for dealing with chemical spills contain absorbents for mopping up the spills together gloves and goggles for personal protection.

Companies will normally provide their operators with full suitable personal protection equipment if more than gloves or goggles are required.

However, during the process of responding to a spill, the operator is exposed to that chemical.

The chemical neutralising spill kits from Fosse Liquitrol provide acid and alkali neutralising powders which render the chemical neutral and provide the operator with a clear colour change indicator which shows when the neutralisation is complete.

The spilled chemical is rendered harmless and the operator is no longer exposed to any personal safety risk.

Back to top