March 26, 2004—Firms working with chemicals will be able to get free online advice on how to protect people and the environment with a new Web tool being developed by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive , the Environment Agency, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The tool, “Chemical Essentials,” will bring together the regulation of occupational health, safety at work, and the environment.
Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan said, “In Great Britain, at least 12,000 new cases of illness and injury due to exposure to hazardous substances at work arise each year, and around 4,000 are serious. Employers, particularly small businesses, need to recognize that the branded product they are using could actually harm their own health or that of their workforce. We want to develop channels of support and advice that can be accessed without fear of enforcement action. Chemical Essentials, which does not introduce any new legal duties, .will give free practical help.on how to control hazardous substances that can cause asthma, skin disease, and even cancer.”
Ceri Davies, Head of Air and Chemicals Policy at the Environment Agency, added, “Small and medium-sized businesses may be responsible for over 50% of the pollution incidents in England and Wales, but they do not always have the resources to address environmental issues. That is why we must provide clear, readily understandable information and support.”
Chemical Essentials builds on the success of HSE’s COSHH Essentials, a Web tool that helps businesses control health risks from chemicals; and NetRegs, a joint project of the Environment Agency, SEPA, and the Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland, which gives advice about how to comply with environmental law.
A demonstration CD-Rom is available from HSE, showing how Chemical Essentials could operate, and providing specimen guidance for selected chemicals and tasks.
