Legislation

Legislation

2004/42/EC – The Product Directive

This European directive is aimed at specific markets with determined solvent levels. A two tier system with VOC levels set at the start of 2007 with further reductions required from 1st Jan 2010. ISF Coatings Products comply with this European directive.

COSHH – The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

This legislation has been in place since 1988 and requires employers to assess the health risks of the products they use and where practicable replace with less hazardous products or reduce the usage of more hazardous products and to control the risks of using hazardous products.

REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals

You may or may not be aware of the new EU regulation - REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) which became law across the EU on 1st June 2007. REACH ushers in a new era for the management of chemicals and means some significant shifts in responsibility between industry and regulatory authorities.

Although its name implies that it might just be of interest to the "chemicals" sector, REACH is very broad in scope. Potentially it may impact across many business sectors - businesses which may manufacture, import and/or use chemicals but either do not realise it or do not think they would be covered - for example chemicals in imported articles (finished goods) are covered in REACH. Further information on REACH can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/reach

DSEAR – Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations

This legislation is concerned with protection against risks from fire, explosion and similar events arising from the use of dangerous substances in the workplace. They set minimum requirements for the protection of workers from fire and explosion risks related to the dangerous substances and potentially explosive atmospheres.

1999/13/EC – Solvent Directive

This supersedes the requirement of the EPA 1990 Regulations in relation to the coatings industry. Customers using more than 15 tonnes of solvent (VOC) in any 12 month period should have been complying since 1999, customers using between 5 and 15 tonnes have until 31st October 2007 to fully comply and those under 5 tonnes of solvent are exempt.

MHSWR – Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

This regulation has been in place since 1992 and follows on from the requirements of The Health and Safety at Work Act. This legislation places a specific requirement on the employers to undertake risk assessments and to control those risks.