Health and Safety REACHes out to advise businesses of new chemicals legislation

Date:

14 April 2008

Release No:

HSE NE/163/08

The Health and Safety Executive is reaching out to all kinds of businesses across the North East that use chemicals in their daily business, to advise them about new regulations for managing the manufacture, supply and use of chemicals, known as REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of CHemicals.

A free business briefing is to be held on 17th April at the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club at 8.30 am.

The briefing is open to anyone who works with chemicals - from hairdressers to vehicle repairers and chemical manufacturers or importers - and will bring those attending up to speed with what REACH is about and what they need to think about and act on.

Richard Bishop, Inspector HSE North East, explained that the new regulations affect companies that make, trade in or use individual chemicals, mixtures of chemicals and also articles and the chemicals within them.  He said:

"REACH is not just about the chemicals industry. The regulations apply to a host of familiar things that we all have contact with  – metals, glues, paints, solvents, detergents, plastics, polishes, pens, computers to name but some; aspects of REACH touch on them all.

"For example a company who produces metals may have to register the substances that make up alloys under REACH.  Equally, a company may provide a substance that may not in itself be an obvious chemical, but some, or all of the starting ingredients of its product may be covered under REACH".

The briefing session will cover what REACH is, how it will operate and where you fit in.  It will also show some case studies of businesses already preparing for it.  Anyone who uses chemicals in their business, which is most businesses, and who is not familiar with REACH would benefit from the briefing, particularly Managing Directors, Buyers and Health and Safety staff.

To book a place at the REACH event to be held on 17th April, 2008, call 0845 4089574 or e-mail reachcameetings@hse.gsi.gov.uk

Public enquiries:

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500,
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only):

Jackie Woods: Tel: 0191 202 3604; or
Jill Barber: 0191 202 3609.
HSE National News Desk: 0207 717 6700
Out of hours: 0207 928 8382

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk

Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI NEWS and PR.
Press Notices issued on behalf of all Government Departments can be viewed on: http://gnn.gov.uk/