The Regulations are being introduced to control dust in coal mines. They will replace the Coal Mines (Respirable Dust Regulations) 1975 and will also implement requirements of the Chemical Agents Directive in relation to coal mine dust.
These regulations appeared in a previous statement, as they were due to come into force in October 2006. However, due to a delay in the approval and subsequent manufacture of sampling equipment that is essential to meet the requirements of the regulations, the coming-into-force date was deferred.
Implementation of the second list of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (European Directive 2006/15/EC). This Directive contains a list of 33 substances with IOELVs. Member States are required to establish domestic occupational exposure limits for these substances. Proposals for setting new and revised Workplace Exposure Limits ( WELs) in order to comply with the Directive were contained in a Consultative Document; the consultation period for which ended on 27 September 2006.