Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 Proposals for Maximum Exposure Limits, and Occupational Exposure Standards

Consultation ended 18 August 2000

Summary

This consultative document contains proposals on 15 different substances. These are:

• 2 new Maximum Exposure Limits (MELs): flour dust, and vanadium pentoxide;
• 5 revised OESs: n-butyl acrylate*1; cyclohexanone*1; ethyl acetate; hydrogen sulphide; and triethylamine*1;
• an OES for which no change is recommended: diethyl ether*1;
• the withdrawal of 7 OESs: chlorobenzene*1; chloroethane*2; hydroquinone; manganese and its inorganic compounds; manganese fume; trimanganese tetraoxide and phenol*1.

Those substances marked with a "*1" and "*2" form part of the 1st and 2nd consolidated Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Value (IOELV) Directives respectively. A more detailed explanation about IOELVs is given in paragraphs 14-18 and in the HSCÕs forthcoming consultative document "European Commission Directive under the Chemical Agents Directive 98/24/EC to establish a First Consolidated List of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values at European Community level" (CD 156), due to be published in June 2000. The 29 IOELV substances covered in that Consultative Document are shown in the table following paragraph 18.