HSC press release C001:03 - 6 January 2003
The amendment to the Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982 (NIHHS) comes into force today.
The explosion at the Grande Paroisse/AZF Factory in Toulouse, on 21 September 2001, highlighted the fact that a major incident could be caused by a smaller amount of ammonium nitrate than was previously thought. As a consequence, and as signalled in the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) press release C018:02 on 11 July 2002, the Government requested that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collect and collate the data where significant amounts of ammonium nitrate are being handled or stored in Great Britain.
The amendment will lower the notification threshold of ammonium nitrate from 500 to 150 tonnes and require anyone handling or likely to handle or store 150 tonnes or more of ammonium nitrate to notify HSE within four weeks from today. These changes will affect some farmers, fertiliser manufacturers, importers, distributors, agricultural suppliers, ports and docks.
Kevin Allars, head of HSE's Hazardous Installations Policy Division, said: "This amendment will assist HSE by providing comprehensive information of the location of all significant stocks of ammonium nitrate fertiliser. This information, and the lessons and outcomes from Toulouse, will enable HSE to take stock and plan and respond accordingly."
All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office
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