Changes to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 will be introduced, following Parliamentary approval on 20th October 2005. The regulations apply to businesses handling over 50 tonnes of packaging each year with a turnover in excess of £2 million. Key features of the changes are as follows.
• Compliance costs will be more […]

“Colour vision examination, A guide for employers” provides general information on colour vision tests for managers and others who may need to use them. “Colour vision examination, A guide for occupational health providers” acts as an aid to employers and their occupational health providers in choosing the appropriate colour vision testing methods given the […]

The HSE has published two new guides relating the control of noise at work. “Noise at work: Guidance for employers on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005” and a “pocket card” for employees called “Protect your hearing or lose it!”. Both documents cover the issues surrounding noise levels at work, including […]

The HSE has published “Construction Information Sheet No 10 (Revision 4)”, aimed at users of mobile access towers (also known as tower scaffolds or towers). It will also help those who select and specify such equipment. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require an assessment to be undertaken before starting any work at height. […]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new free guides to help raise awareness of the risks associated with ladder use and to give advice on how to use ladders safely. The guides are aimed at all users of ladders and their employers and have been published as part of HSE’s campaign to reduce […]

A regime to ensure householders are covered by Duty of Care obligations regarding waste will come into force on 21st November 2005. The Waste (Household Waste Duty of Care) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 were laid before Parliament on 18th October, and will ensure UK compliance with the Waste Framework Directive.
In keeping with […]

A range of measures concerning fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles came into force on 18 October 2005, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which received Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. The first raft of measures came into force in June 2005, and included new powers to deal with litter and nuisance parking. […]

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has invited comments on the transposition of amendments to the Noise Directive into UK law. The Directive sets maximum limits on sound power levels for 57 types of outdoor equipment. A two-tier system has been adopted to stream the maximum permissible sound emissions into UK law: stage one […]

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 provide for the setting of fees and charges for Local Air Pollution Control (LAPC), Local Air - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC), and Local Air Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC) at levels that will recover costs of local authorities of implementing the […]

The HSE has published the third edition of its booklet covering occupational health and safety in food and drink manufacture. The booklet has been substantially revised and expanded, setting out the priority health and safety risks and providing benchmarks against which to measure performance. It also includes a management action plan.
The booklet is […]