The Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a statutory body co-ordinated by a Director General and two other people appointed by the Executive. 

Health and Safety Inspectors (including Explosives Inspectors) are appointed by the HSE to ensure compliance with the relevant statutory provisions. The inspectors have very wide ranging powers, and this is another factor that contributes to fireworks safety. 

A welcome addition to the controls imposed by the HSE which relate to the manufacture, keeping, safe conveyance and importation of explosives, including fireworks, is the British Standard BS7114. This standard applies specifically to consumer fireworks and was promulgated in 1988 in order to deal with aspects such as the categorisation, performance testing, quality control and labelling of all types of fireworks. 

Amazingly, no such protocol existed in the UK before 1988, when it was difficult to prevent dangerous, imported fireworks from reaching the shop shelves. Thus, unsuspecting consumers could, in theory at least, purchase items containing prohibited mixtures of, say, sulfur and potassium chlorate and drop them onto the back seat of the family saloon where they could ignite without warning. 

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. 

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Vinyl chloride monomer Continuous or in accordance with a procedure approved by the Health and Safety Executive... 

Where these limits are impracticable having regard to the nature of the work the employer may apply a dose limit of 100 mSv in any period of 5 consecutive months subject to a maximum effective dose of 50 mSv in any single calendar year, and to prior approval by the Radiation Protection Adviser, the affected employee(s), and the Health and Safety Executive. 

The Health and Safety Executive working with employers... 

FIGURE >0.70 The capture of tracer gas released at five times the diameter of the exhaust inlet when the radius of the exhaust hood is 0. tS m, the radius of the exhaust hood inlet is 0.037 m, and the width of the exhaust jet is 8.0 mm. fej Suction alone with average inlet velocity of 12.7 m s. (b) Combined suction and Injection with the average inlet and exhaust velocities of 12 8 rn s and 7.7 m s . respectively. (Figures are courtesy of the Health and Safety Executive, Research Division. Sheffield. UK.)... 

Reference should be made to Threshold Limit Values, Guidance Note EHl7/78, issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), or Industrial Ventilation (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists). In all cases, proposals should be reviewed by and submitted to the relevant local authority agencies. 

Unfortunately, deaths occur every year in industry due to accidents that are preventable. Accidents are more likely to occur where firms are under pressure to meet targets, and safety measures tend to be ignored. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up to administer the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and incorporates... 

All the booklets issued by the Health and Safety Executive are available from HMSO, and as the series is continually expanding the reader is advised to obtain an up-to-date list from the nearest Stationery Office. 

Maximum Exposure Limit MEL) Maximum limits of concentration of airborne toxic contaminants, listed by the Health and Safety Executive which must not be exceeded. 

Mechanical ventilation See Powered ventilation. Natural ventilation A ventilation system in which air movement is produced through purpose-designed openings by natural forces (wind and thermal buoyancy). Occupational Exposure Standards OES) Limits of concentration of airborne toxic contaminants, listed by the Health and Safety Executive which are regarded as safe for prolonged exposure for 8 hours per day. 

Guidance notes relevant to sound health and safety practices are published from time to time by the Health and Safety Executive. They have no legal status or significance such as found in Codes of Practice. However, as their content is normally based on a wealth of practical experience, it would be expected by the enforcing authorities that employers would follow the advice contained in them. 

Whereas the Health and Safety Commission is responsible for the development of policies in the health and safety field, the Health and Safety Executive, being a separate statutory body appointed by the Commission, will work in accordance with directions and guidance given by the Commission. The Executive will provide advice on health and safety to both sides of industry and will enforce legal requirements. 

Numerous leaflets can be obtained from the local offices of the Health and Safety Executive or HSE Information Points. Remember, if you have any doubts about the health and safety risks involved with respect to any substance you may consider using, or any work you are planning to undertake, seek advice. This information may be obtained from your company safety officer, consultants, manufac-turer/supplier or equipment/materiaPsubstance, HSE or local Environmental Health Officer. Use their expertise and knowledge. Do not be a statistic. 

Mackowiak, J., Report on Sodium/Steel Interactions, Sponsored by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive, Ref 98/CS/129/1976 (1977)... 

Occupational exposure limits for airborne contaminants are reviewed annually in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive. They are published as Guidance Note EH 40/ —. The two types of exposure limit are ... 

Regulatory and advisory bodies publish methods for ambient air analysis such as those issued by the British Standards Inshtute and the US Environment Protechon Agency (Tables 10.24 and 10.25, respectively). Methods for assessment of workplace air are published by the Health and Safety Executive. Some of these are generic methods (Table 10.26) whilst others are compound specihc (Table 10.27). Examples of other official methods for moihtoring workplace air quality are those published by the British Standards Inshtute (Table 10.28), and the US Nahonal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Table 10.29). Table 10.30 provides addihonal guidance on analytical techniques for a selection of substances. 

In practice it has been agreed that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will operate as the de facto competent authority and that new Regulations will be made under the Health Safety at Work etc. Act and the European Communies Act - the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR). 

Health and Safety Executive. The fires and explosion at BP Oil (Grangemouth) Refinery Ltd. A report of the investigations by the Health and Safety Executive into the fires and explosion at Grangemouth and Dalmeny, Scotland, 13 March, 22 March and 11 June 1987. London Her Majesty s Stationery Office. 

The Fire at Hickson Welch Ltd." A report of the investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the fatal fire at Hickson fit Welch Ltd., Castleford on 21 September 1992. HSE Books 1994. 

In the United Kingdom the use of substances likely to be harmful to employees is covered by regulations issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (HSAWA). The principal set of regulations in force is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations, 2002 known under the acronym the COSHH regulations. The COSHH regulations apply to any hazardous substance in use in any place of work. 

The preparation of safety cases under the CIMAH regulations is covered by Lees and Ang (1989). The company is required to report any major incident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 

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