HSC - Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS)

Terms of reference: To advise the Commission on matters relating to the prevention, control and management of hazards and risks to the health and safety of persons arising from the supply or use of toxic substances at work, with due regard to any related risks to consumers, the public and the environment.

ACTS open meetings

Subcommittees

In order to provide the appropriate support to deliver its work plan ACTS has a number of subcommittees. These include:

• Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP).
  A consultative forum for the consideration of issues relating to the hazard classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals in the context of the Dangerous Substances Directive and the Dangerous Preparations Directive. For further information on SCHIP, please see 'Background and purpose of the Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP)'

• The Working Group on Action to Control Chemicals (WATCH)
  WATCH advises the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS) and HSC/E on scientific and technical issues relating to the assessment and control of health risks from chemicals. It is a government scientific advisory committee and as such is subject to the Office of Science and Technology's Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees.

• European Risk Management Advisory Group (ERMAG)
  This is a consultative forum which considers risk reduction strategies for chemicals reviewed through the European Existing Substances Regulation.

• Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
  Provides a forum for discussion between HSE, UK members of the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) and other interested bodies, on the development of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs) and of Binding Limit Values, and other related matters, with special reference to the quality of scientific reviews and socio-economic factors. In particular, it co-ordinates comments made to the European Commission on these matters.

• Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) Framework Review Working Group
  Was set up with the remit to develop a revised OEL Framework, within the context of the COSHH control hierarchy, to provide a robust tool for the management of chemicals in the workplace thereby contributing to the effective protection of workers' health.

• Working Group on COSHH Essentials
  This working group quality assures future sheets for inclusion in the COSHH Essentials pack and related publications carrying the COSHH Essentials logo. It also reviews the technical base for COSHH Essentials developments.

ACTS Secretariat can be contacted at: Health & Safety Executive, Floor 5S1, Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HS or email: gill.fod.smith@hse.gsi.gov.uk

ACTS

Agendas	Papers	Minutes
11 November 08
Agenda 11/11/08	Background on developing and implementing Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs) Matters arising and Secretary's Report Update – HSE progress on nanotechnology issues Current developments
09 July 08
Agenda 09/07/08	Options Paper on Controlling Exposure to Dusts Paper on Classification of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) dust Matters arising and Secretary’s report WATCH - Annual Report Update – Position concerning the hazards arising from nanotechnology and appropriate controls  Update - Review of the use of toxic chemicals in the semiconductor industry and appropriate controls Update - HSE cancer seminar on 4th June 2008 Current Developments	Minutes 09/07/08
25 May 07
Agenda 25/05/07	Secretary’s report (following meeting on 30 November 2006) Current developments ACTS/06/2007 Annual report on the work of acts working groups – ERMAG, SCHIP and WEELS Annual report on the work of the acts flour dust working group Annual report on the work of the working group on action to control chemicals (WATCH) Advice on priorities that the Health and Safety System should address during 2008-2011	Minutes 25/05/07
30 November 06
Agenda 30/11/06	A review of HSE’s potential role in the REACH CA WATCH/2006/12 Silica measurement issues ACTS/20/2006 Future of ACTS: Proposed way forward ACTS/21/2006 Report back to ACTS on the consultation on the implementation of the 2nd IOELV Directive ACTS/22/2006 Annex 1 Review of CHANs (Andie Michael) ACTS/23/2006 Nanotechnology WATCH/2006/10 Nanotechnology WATCH/2006/10 Annex 1 Nanotechnology WATCH/2006/10 Annex 2 Nanotechnology WATCH/2006/10 Annex 3 Matters arising and Secretary’s report ACTS/24/2006 COPD - ACTS/25/2006 COPD ACTS/25/2006 Annex 1 COPD ACTS/25/2006 Annex 2 COPD ACTS/25/2006 Annex 3 COPD ACTS/25/2006 Annex 4 Flour Dust ACTS/26/2006 Current Developments ACTS/27/2006	Minutes 30/11/06
3 May 06
Agenda 03/05/06	Asbestos consultation ACTS/01/2006 Future of ACTS next steps ACTS/02/2006 Respirable crystalline silica ACTS/03/2006 Annex A Nanotechnology REACH Matters arising and Secretary’s report ACTS/04/2006 Annual report on WATCH ACTS/06/2006 Annual report on flour dust ACTS/07/2006 Annual reports on ERMAG, SCHIP and WEELS ACTS/08/2006 Current developments ACTS/05/2006	Minutes 03/05/06
17 November 2005
Agenda 17/11/05	Future of ACTS. ACTS/41/2005 Matters arising and Secretary’s report ACTS/42/2005 Current developments ACTS/43/2005 HSC consults on amended asbestos regulations and approved code of practice. ACTS/43/2005 Annex 1	Minutes 17/11/05
30 June 2005
Agenda 30/06/05	Update on work carried out on solvents ACTS/27/2005 Update on HSE's work to review the 16 MELs identified as part of the new OEL framework ACTS/20/2005 Consultative document on a new WEL for respirable crystalline silica. ACTS/21/2005	Minutes 30/06/05
25 November 2004
Agenda 25/11/04	Chemical Hazard Alert Notices ACTS/31/04 Annex 1: Furfuryl alcohol Annex 1.1: COSHH paper Annex 2: | Furfuryl alcohol Stakeholder engagement ACTS/34/04 Proposals to introduce a new workplace exposure limit (WEL) for silica ACTS/35/04 Annexes currently withheld Isocyanates [report on Isocyanates workshop, research and next steps] ACTS/36/04 Annex 1: HSL report Annex 2: IOM paper [1mb] Annex 3: Estimated cases of work related asthma by suspected causative agent Plan of work ACTS/37/04 Secretary's report ACTS/38/04 Current developments ACTS/39/04	Minutes 25/11/04
8 July 2004
Agenda 08/07/04	HSC’s new strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond MISC 643 Proposals to introduce a new OEL framework ACTS/20/2004 Annexes ACTS/20/2004 Subtilisins - establishment of an OEL ACTS/21/2004 ACTS open meeting 2004 - update ACTS/22/2004 Matters arising and Secretary’s report ACTS/24/2004 Reconstitution of the ACTS/ACDS Chemicals Essentials Subgroup ACTS/25/2004 Report on the outcome of the EU vote on the 29th adaptation to technical progress of the EC’s Dangerous Substances Directive 67/548/EEC ACTS/27/2004 Current developments ACTS/26/2004	Minutes 08/07/04
25 March 2004
Agenda 25/03/04	Review of October 2003 meeting and future strategy ACTS/01/2004 Refractory ceramic fibres ACTS/02/2004 Proposals to introduce a new OEL framework (CD189) - Update on progress ACTS/04/2004 Review of flour dust maximum exposure limit (MEL) ACTS/05/2004 Progress with the asthma Strategy ACTS/06/2004 Cancer and skin diseases programme ACTS/07/2004 Secretary’s report (following 17 October 2003 meeting) ACTS/09/2004 Genetic testing for employment: susceptibility and exposure to hazardous substances ACTS/10/2004 Annual report on the work of acts working groups - ERMAG, SCHIP and WEELS ACTS/11/2004 Progressing the work plan: Liaison with other committees ACTS/12/2004 Annual report on the work of the ACTS Communications Working Group (CoWG) ACTS/14/2004 Annual report on the work of COSHH Essentials Working Group ACTS/15/2004 Annual report of the work of ACDS/ACTS Chemical Essentials Subgroup ACTS/16/2004 Current developments ACTS/17/2004 Agenda item 10 EU Indicative occupational exposure limit process identifying substances and sceol recomendation stage	Minutes 25/03/04
17 October 2003
Agenda 17/10/03	Secretaries report (following 10 July meeting) Current developments (as of 17/10/03) Notes	Minutes 17/10/03
10 July 2003
Agenda 10/07/03	Progressing the work plan - liaison with IACs and other committees - ACTS/21/2003 [214kb] ACTS open meeting - finalisation of arrangements - ACTS/23/2003 [142kb] Proposal to introduce a new OEL framework - draft consultative document - ACTS/24/2003 [102kb] Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - a control approach - ACTS/26/2003 [106kb] Matters arising and Secretary's report - ACTS/29/2003 [61kb] Current developments - ACTS/30/2003 [127kb]	Minutes 10/07/03
13 March 2003
Agenda 13/03/03	First steps in progressing the work plan - ACTS/03/2003 [120kb] Stock take of ACTS’s sub-groups and proposals for a new Scientific and Technical advisory sub-committee. - ACTS/04/2003 [45kb] Proposals for European Week of Safety and Health 2003 on prevention of risks caused by dangerous substances - ACTS/09/2003 [50kb] ACTS Open meeting - ACTS/06/2003 [40kb] Progress with the Asthma Strategy - ACTS/05/2003 [90kb] Subtilisins - proposal for a MEL - ACTS/08/2003 [100kb] The EU chemicals strategy - ACTS/10/2003 [150kb] Matters arising and Secretary’s report - ACTS/11/2003 [30kb] Chemical essentials: joint HSE/ Environment Agency project to develop integrated health safety and environmental advice on working safely with chemicals - ACTS/12/2003 [30kb] Report from WATCH - ACTS/13/2003 [14kb] Current developments - ACTS/14/2003 [16kb] Publicity strategy for electronic COSHH Essentials - ACTS/15/2003 [30kb]	Minutes 13/03/03 [33kb]
21 November 2002
Agenda 21/11/02	Feedback from the presentation of HSE's Chemical Strategy to HSC at it's 12 November 2002 meeting Finalisation of the Chemical Trends Forward Look for 2004 and beyond Finalisation of ACTS's future plan of work 2003 - 2006 Report back on the outcome of consultation via the OEL framework discussion document Publicising limits Proposals for Maximum Exposure Limits (MELs) and Occupational Exposure Standards. Feedback on CD182 MEL proposal for refractory ceramic fibres Progress with the Asthma Strategy - Paper 47 Proposal for closing down NEWCON Report from WATCH - Paper 54 The New European Chemicals Strategy Standing Committee on Hazardous Chemicals and Packaging (SCHIP) Current Developments - Paper 49 Reducing risks, protecting people (R2P2): HSE's decision making process	Minutes 21/11/02
22/23 July 2002
Agenda 22-23/07/02
14 March 2002
Agenda 14/03/02
22 November 2001
Agenda 22/11/01
26 July 2001
Agenda 26/07/01
29 March 2001
Agenda 29/03/01

Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP)

• 23 May 2002 - SCHIP/05/02 (Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP))
• 21 November 2001 - SCHIP/45/01 (Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP))
• 23 May 2001 - SCHIP/21/01 (Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP))

ERMAG

• 10 January 2002 - (European Risk Management Advisory Group)
• 16 March 2001 (European Risk Management Advisory Group)

WEELS

• 18 May 2004 - (Working Group on European Exposure Limits) (WEELS))
• 23 October 2003 - (Working Group on European Exposure Limits) (WEELS))
• 4 February 2003 - (Working Group on European Exposure Limits) (WEELS))
• 19 April 2002 - (Working Group on European Exposure Limits) (WEELS))
• 19 December 2001 - (Working Group on European Exposure Limits) (WEELS))