CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER SENTENCE UPHELD
The Court of Appeal has refused an application for leave to appeal against the conviction and sentence imposed in the first corporate manslaughter case (see ‘Monitor’, April 2011, page 1). The court said the trial judge had correctly applied the sentencing guidelines.

REACH DEADLINE FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Companies had until 1 June 2011 to notify the European Chemicals Agency (the ECHA) about certain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in articles. Producers or importers of articles (notably engineered products) must notify the ECHA if an SVHC on the ECHA Candidate List is present in their articles above a threshold of 0.1 per cent weight by weight and if the quantity of the SVHC in the articles is over one tonne per producer/importer per year.

Source: http://echa.europa.eu/news/pr/201104/pr_11_08_notify_about_svhc_in_articles_june_20110413_en.asp

EURO-PACKAGING AND LABELLING GUIDANCE
The ECHA has also published guidance on the labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures covered by the CLP Regulation*. It is aimed at manufacturers, importers, and the downstream users and distributors of substances and mixtures.

The new guidance gives more details on labelling and packaging than earlier ECHA guidance on the Application of CLP Criteria. It is said to clarify in particular:

• aspects to consider when estimating label size;
• what types of supplemental information are possible, and where to put this information on the label;
• the conditions for small packaging exemptions;
• the interaction between CLP and transport labelling rules;
• how to select a set of precautionary statements to go on the label; and
• transitional provisions for substances and mixtures already on the market.
  

*European Regulation 1272/2008. This integrates the classification and labelling criteria of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System (UN GHS).

Source: http://echa.europa.eu/news/na/201104/na_11_18_lp_guidance_20110408_en.asp

NANO-CREAM HELPS PREVENT NICKEL ALLERGY
Researchers in the US claim to have produced a cream that can combat nickel allergy. The treatment uses nanoparticles (what else? – Ed.) to trap nickel on the skin before it is absorbed. Nickel sensitivity occurs when the metal builds up inside the skin and triggers an immune reaction.

Researchers at the Harvard Medical School in Boston added calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate nanoparticles to glycerine, which was then applied to skin. The relatively large nanoparticles stay on top of the skin and reportedly capture nickel ions before they become sub-dermal, where irritation occurs.

The study was published in ‘Nature Nanotechnology’ (DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2011.37).

PLASTIC CAPSULES MAY MEAN SAFER LITHIUM BATTERIES
Capsules coated onto electrodes could reduce the operational safety hazards of lithium ion batteries by turning the batteries off if they overheat and protecting the electrodes, according to US researchers.

Lithium ion batteries are common in portable electronic applications such as mobile phones, but bulky versions are set to become much more prevalent as the number of electric and hybrid cars increase. However, lithium batteries can overheat – and in extreme circumstances – catch fire or fail catastrophically.

According to Scott White from the University of Illinois, ‘self-healing’ materials can be deployed to improve battery safety and even self-repair. One approach involves polyethylene capsules. If a battery heats up to 105°C, the capsules melt and the polyethylene covers the electrode, preventing further ion flow and effectively shutting down the battery. White adds that this approach could be integrated into the manufacture of lithium batteries and, importantly, has potential in other battery systems. “This is a translatable technology that can be modified”, he suggests.

Source: www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/February/23021102.asp

BAFE CONSULTS ON FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT SCHEME
A new scheme for the third party certification of companies providing fire risk assessment services has been launched for consultation by fire engineering body BAFE.

BAFE SP205 sets out requirements for scheme members – ranging from a large company to a self-employed person – to register one or more individuals responsible for the accuracy and quality assurance of fire risk assessments. SP205 also aims to encompass a range of business links between a risk assessment company and its client.

The competence of the named person(s) will be audited by a UKAS accredited third party certification body licensed to administer the BAFE scheme. The audits will cover the administrative and quality processes, based on checks of completed fire risk assessments and a periodic review of the individual’s competence, says BAFE.

The 18-page draft document is available for comment at: www.bafe.org.uk/uploads/DOC4DC0071603D56.pdf

NEW EUROPEAN ROAD TRANSPORT SAFETY SITE
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has launched a new website designed to help keep drivers safe.

The site (http://osha. europa.eu/en/sector/road_transport) provides access to a series of reports and other resources to help meet the challenges of managing health and safety in the road transport sector. Some of the material deals with the issues facing specific groups within the sector, such as delivery and despatch riders, taxi drivers, and drivers in road haulage and passenger transport.

The reports include a review of programmes and campaigns to reach and influence the road transport sector on OSH matters, case studies of prevention practices covering road haulage and bus passenger transport and a review of road transport accidents.

OSH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM GUIDE
A new guide from the International Labour Office sets out a basic guide to applying OSH Management Systems (OSHMS). The report also highlights how to apply OSHMS in particularly high risk sectors.

The guide summarises the key elements for a good OSH Management System as including:

• make a careful assessment of the organisation’s needs in relations to its means and adapt the OSHMS accordingly;
• keep in mind that the system is designed to improve rather than to justify itself;
• ensure that audits contribute to the continual improvement process rather than becoming a mechanism for improving audit scores only;
• OSH related training for the implementation of the OSHMS programme should be carried out on a continuous basis at all levels, from top managers to shop floor workers, and updated regularly ensuring knowledge of the system and keeping up with changes in the organisation;
• OSHMS cannot function properly without the existence of effective social dialogue (direct involvement and consultation) – workers and their representatives should be given the opportunity to fully participate in the management of OSH in the context of joint safety and health committees, or other mechanisms such as collective bargaining arrangements.
  

‘OSH Management System: A tool for continual improvement’, International Labour Office, Geneva, 2011. ISBN 978-92-2-124739-5 can be obtained from www.ilo.org/safework/info/publications/lang--en/docName--WCMS_153930/index.htm

TELEPHONE ACCIDENT REPORTING REDUCTION
RIDDOR accident reporting will be predominantly online from 12 September 2011, although it will still be possible for businesses to notify fatal and major incidents and injuries by phone from that date.

The HSE has also announced that its Infoline telephone service, which provides basic information, will end on 30 September 2011.

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