CDG CHANGES SHAKE UP CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVES
The Classification and Labelling of Explosives Regulations 1983 (CLER 1983) have been revoked. CLER's main purpose was to ensure explosives are classified for safe transport and that their packaging was properly labelled. However, the HSE recently identified that CLER overlapped with explosives classifications under ADR*, which is implemented by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (CDG). The amended Regulations cover England, Wales and Scotland and also take in requirements based on international RID** and ADN rules***.

The latest amendments to CDG were developed by the HSHSE and the Department for Transport. The amendments also incorporate the requirements of the consolidated transportable pressure equipment Directive 2010/35/EU. The 2010 consolidating Directive repealed five earlier Directives (76/767; 84/525; 84/526, 84/527 and notably 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment).

Regulation 15 of the 2011 Regulations also amends requirements for ‘radiological emergencies'. A carrier of radioactive goods is now jointly responsible with the consignor for ensuring an emergency plan is in place, and for reviewing and revising the plan when necessary.

The new Regulations (SI 1885) are available from: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1885/note/made

*: ADR - the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.

**: RID - International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail.

***: ADN - the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway.

SME RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL
An Online interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) aimed at micro and small enterprises has been launched by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

More information is available from www.oiraproject.eu/about

NEW DRIVING OFFENCE
The Government is to introduce a new offence of "causing serious injury by dangerous driving", which will carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The change will be taken forward as part of the Government's Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

The Government says that for the vast majority of other dangerous driving cases, the maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment provides the courts with sufficient and proportionate powers to punish offenders.

If a person causes death by managementdangerous driving the maximum sentence is 14 years.

DRIVERS TEXTING AT THE WHEEL
Research from road safety charity Brake suggests that nearly three in 10 drivers (28 per cent) text at the wheel and one in 13 (8 per cent) do this at least once a week. One in 11 drivers (9 per cent) surfs the web, emails, uses apps or social networking sites when driving.

The charity says texting has been found to make drivers 23 times more likely to cause a crash and that using a phone to email or surf the web also causes serious distractions.

It is illegal to drive a vehicle or ride a motorcycle while using a hand-held mobile phone, smartphone or PDA. It is also illegal to use any kind of electronic device to send or receive spoken or written messages or still or moving images or access the Internet. This includes when stopped at traffic lights or queued in traffic. Drivers can be fined up to £1,000 for the offence.

The report is based on a survey of 841 drivers and riders carried out by Brake volunteers, at a range of locations across the UK.

Source: www.brake.org.uk/latest-news/280911.htm

PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES UPLIFT LEFT TO JUDGES
A proposal to introduce a 10 per cent uplift on general damages in personal injury claims looks to be left to the judiciary, according to a report in the ‘Law Society Gazette'.

The increase, recommended by the Jackson report, is not in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, with the Government instead relying on judges to implement the uplift - designed to reflect other changes which will potentially reduce damages.

An MoJ spokeswoman told the ‘Gazette': "The judiciary are currently looking at how to implement the 10 per cent uplift in damages as part of conditional fee agreements. We would expect insurers to comply with the rates set by the courts when making out-of-court settlements".

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/claimants-will-never-see-ten-cent-damages-uplift

CRISIS MANAGEMENT PAS RELEASED
The BSI has launched a publicly available specification (PAS) to help businesses cope with unexpected emergencies including employee deaths and natural disasters. PAS 200, which is sponsored by the Cabinet Office, advises organisations on the kind of capabilities they need to develop and maintain in order to detect, prepare and respond to a crisis.

Copies of PAS 200:2011, ‘Crisis management - Guidance and good practice'  (priced £100) are available from: http://shop.bsigroup.com/crisismanagement

EMPLOYER'S GUIDE TO CANCER
Macmillan Cancer Support has launched a toolkit to help employers support people with cancer, and their carers, in the workplace.

The charity says ‘The Essential Work and Cancer Toolkit' will give employers a better understanding of the physical, emotional and financial impact of a cancer diagnosis, practical guidance on how to manage employees with cancer and information on how people with cancer are protected by the Equality Act.

The free toolkit can be ordered from www.macmillan.org.uk/work

ISO ERGONOMICS STANDARD
A new ISO standard on ergonomics is available. The ISO says that ISO 26800:2011, ‘Ergonomics - General approach, principles and concepts' will serve as an umbrella reference for all ergonomics standards and provide an integrated framework bringing together the basic principles and concepts of ergonomics in one document.

ISO 26800 describes fundamental principles in order to improve safety, performance and usability (effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction), while safeguarding and enhancing human health and well-being, and improving accessibility, e.g. for those with disabilities.

The intended users of the standard are designers, ergonomists and project managers, as well as managers, workers, consumers and procurers. ISO says the Standard's specific goal is to facilitate task performance, safeguard and enhance the safety, health and well-being of the worker, or the user/operator of products/equipment, by optimising tasks, equipment, services, and the environment.

The Standard can be obtained from the BSI http://shop.bsigroup.com for £130 (£65 to members). It is also available from the ISO for 92 Swiss Francs at http: www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=42885

LIGHTING STANDARD
The BSI's BS EN 12464 specifies lighting requirements for people in indoor work places to meet the needs for visual comfort and performance of people having normal ophthalmic (visual) capacity. The Standard considers all usual visual tasks, including Display Screen Equipment (DSE).

Part 1 of BS EN 12464 specifies the requirements for lighting solutions for most indoor work places and their associated areas in terms of quantity and quality of illumination. In addition, recommendations are given for good lighting practice.

BS EN 12464-1:2011 ‘Light and lighting. Lighting of work places. Indoor work places' can be obtained from the BSI for £182 (£91 to members) from http://shop.bsigroup.com/

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