HSE confers on revisions

The HSE has begun consultations on three revised Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs). The consultations are the latest stage of revisions to ACOPS as recommended by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in his independent review of health and safety legislation Reclaiming health and safety for all.

The first covers the ACOP on Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The key changes include:

• revision of the text to make it easier for duty holders to understand and comply with their legal duties;

• revision of the text to take account of the introduction of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation;

• moving information on the principles of good control practice from an annex to the guidance associated with regulation 7; and

• clarification of the requirements relating to thorough examination and test of control measures.

The key changes to an updated ACOP on Legionnaire’s disease include • some guidance assigned ACOP status to clarify legal requirements where there is an accepted industry method of compliance;

Finally, the HSE has proposed a consolidated version of the following parts of the ACOP on the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).

It merges and updates ACOPs on the design of plant, equipment and workplaces; the storage of dangerous substances; control and mitigation measures; safe maintenance, repair and cleaning procedures; and dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres.

www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd259.htm

www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd254.htm

www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd258.htm