The Explosives Acts

The important subject of legislation applied to the explosives industry, including fireworks, corrraienced in the form of the Explosives Acts of 1875 and 1923. 

Nowadays, regulatory provisions are also applied, and those governing health and safety fall into four categories (a) Acts of Parliament, (b) Regulations made under those Acts, (c) Codes of Practice, and (d) Guidance Notes. 

When a Bill has been debated in Parliament and received Royal Assent it becomes law. Regulations made under the Acts also become law, and so the Factories Act of 1961 and the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 must be obeyed because they are part of criminal law. 

The fireworks industry in the UK is too small to warrant continuous attention by Parliament, but two corporate bodies have been established in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act that control safe practices within factories, including fireworks factories, and this, in turn, ensures a safe standard of products that reach the general public. 

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) consists of a Chairman appointed by the Secretary of State for Employment, and not less than six and not more than nine other members drawn from industrial organisations, local authorities and professional bodies. 

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Acetylene (ethyne) when a gas subject to a pressure s620 millibars above that of the atmosphere, and not otherwise deemed to be an explosive by virtue of Order in Council No 30, as amended by the Compressed Acetylene Order 1947, or when contained in a homogeneous porous substance in cylinders in accordance with Order of Secretary of State No 9, made under the Explosives Act 1875. ... 

I) cellulose nitrate to which the Explosives Act 1875 applies or (ii) solutions of cellulose nitrate where the nitrogen content of the cellulose nitrate 12.3 /n by weight and the solution contains 55 parts of cellulose nitrate per 100 parts by weight of solution. 

More specific definitions of explosives appear in legislation, e.g. in the UK under the Explosives Act 1875 as amended, which covers ... 

Anybody who studies the legislation will see that BS7114 makes a notable addition to the Explosives Acts of 1875 and 1923, the Fireworks Act of 1951, the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, the Consumer Protection Acts of 1978 and 1987, and the Classification and Labelling of Explosives Regulations of 1983. 

Fireworks that meet the requirements of BS7114 must also be included in a publication called the UK List of Classified and Authorised Explosives (LOCAL) and more recently by LOCAF (the UK List of Classified and Authorised Fireworks 1999). These lists originate from the Explosives Acts and relate to civilian rather than to military explosives. Thus, the 1994 edition of LOCAL contains articles ascribed to Kimbolton, Pains and Le Maitre. For example, included in the FIREWORKS columns, will be found STANDARD SET PIECE. For this particular entry, the United Nations Serial Number is given as 0336, the Hazard Code is 1.4G, the UK Class and Division is 7.2, while the Competent Authority (HSE) Reference is GB 72411. 

The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations (MSER) and Approved Codes of Practice (ACoP) were issued by the Health and Safety Commission, and came into effect on 26 April 2005, having largely replaced the Explosives Acts 1875 and 1923. 

Of the above two expls, Hellhoffite was used extensively even though it was not permitted in Gt Britain because mixing of the ingredients in situ was held to constitute Manufacture within the meaning of the Explosives Act of 1875, and as such could be carried out lawfully only on licensed premises... 

Schedule 1 has the effect of making of special provisions for factory, office, railway or shop premises, that do not form part of a mine, in relation to leasing, part ownership, the issue of licences under the Explosives Act 1875 and the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928. It also has an effect on the proposed or actual storage or use of explosives or highly flammable material in factory premises. 

These regulations apply to types of premises (14 are listed) in which identified high-risk chemicals are used or stored, buildings subject to the Explosives Act 1875, surface buildings associated with mines and quarries, buildings associated with nuclear activities and construction huts. Essentially the regulations, which do not add any requirements not already specified in the FPA, transfer the responsibility for enforcement from the local fire authority to the HSE. 

Commercial explosives are subject to the Explosives Act 1875 which is enforced by the HSE s Hazardous Installations Directorate for factories and magazines, by local authorities for explosive stores (up to 2 tons) and for registered premises for retail sale. All such premises are licensed. Similar controls apply to military explosives which are enforced by the Ministry of Defence. The Act requires precautions to be taken to prevent accidental ignition, which is interpreted by the enforcement authorities to mean the use of explosion-protected installations similar to those in other industries with flammable hazards, together with efficient lightning protection and stringent antistatic measures. 

Order in Council made under the Explosives Act, 1875 Boiler Explosions Act, 1882... 

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