Recent Editions

IMFormation April 2005

Chromium Plating Industry

Thursday 7 April 2005

10.00   Registration, Tea/Coffee 

Session 1        Chairman – Martin Olsen, Surface Engineering Association 

10.30   Chromium and its health hazards – Andrew Cant, Elementis UK

The presentation will briefly consider the different forms of chromium and the hazards associated with each. 

10.50      What I have seen in the plating shops – Anne Gloor, Health & Safety Executive

Results of a project aimed to improve electroplater’s H & S peformance by inspection and the use of  enforcement action will be presented. It will give an inspector’s snap shot view of their H & S performance. 

11.20   Trivalent chromium plating – Paul Lansdell, Kohler Mira Ltd

The presentation is to establish the current position with respect to the trivalent chromium plating solutions commercially available to the decorative industry, with a view to helping people to understand the benefits and pitfalls associated with the use of these solutions. 

11.50      Employee training – Ron Read, Institute of Metal Finishing

This presentation will cover employer’s legal obligations under COSHH, education & training of the workforce for a better technical understanding and ‘Tank side’training.

12.20   Lunch and time to view the exhibitions 

Session 2        Chairman – Ron Read, Institute of Metal Finishing 

13.30   Health surveillance – Joan Blease, Sound Advice Safety & Health Ltd

The presentation will outline what health surveillance your company should be providing for your employees. 

14.00   What HSE expects - Andrew Lake, Health & Safety Executive. Within this presentation will be information on biological monitoring by John Cocker of the Health & Safety Laboratory 

The law (and hence what HSE Inspectors) require of hexavalent chromium users will be explained. The new industry-agreed guidance will be introduced which will form the basis of the Inspectors’ enquires when checking legal compliance, dealing specifically with:

·         Prevention of exposure and control of chromic acid and chromic acid mist

·         Monitoring for electrolytic hexavalent chromium processes; and

·         Health surveillance of hexavalent chromium compounds 

15.15   Tea/Coffee and departure

* * * * *

It is essential that you pre-register for this important event. Please contact -  Zara Arif at the Health & Safety Executive, Tel: 0121 607 6200, Fax: 0121 607 6221,

E-mail: zara.arif@hse.gsi.gov.uk 

The National Motorcycle Museum has a large car park and its own local hotels. If you require overnight accommodation please contact the Museum direct – Tel: 01675 444111, Fax: 01675 443310 

Health, Safety and Environment 

Health and Safety Commission 

HSC have issued a consultation Document: Proposals for New Amending Regulations about the Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Chemicals: CHIP 3.1

The Regulations need to be amended for two reasons. Firstly, to implement the 29^th Adaptation to Technical Progress of the European Community’s Dangerous Substances Directive as part of the UK’s European treaty obligations; and secondly, a number of changes to the text are desirable. Whilst these changes are largely editorial and will clarify and correct; they will not alter the existing requirements of CHIP3.1

Comments should be received by 8 April and sent to: Jan Harris, Rose Ct, 2 Southwark Bridge, SE1 9HS        The full text of the document can be viewed and downloaded from the HSE website on the Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult.index.htm 

Environment Agency 

Following receipt of Ministerial approval, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published the ‘Groundwater Protection Code: Solvent Use and Storage’ (The Solvents Code).

All operators of sites in England and Wales where solvents are produced, stored, used, handled or processed must be able to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the code. 

The Solvents Code has been produced because the inappropriate use and disposal of even small quantities of organic, and particularly chlorinated solvents, can seriously pollute groundwater. The Code is intended to provide operators of such sites with a practical guide on how to protect groundwater from accidental spillage or loss of solvents.

The full document is available free from DEFRA by telephoning – 0845 850 65406 

Language Barriers causing HSE concern 

Concern that migrant workers could be missing out on crucial Health and Safety training, because employers are not providing safety material in any language other than English. This has prompted HSE and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to produce a new safety leaflet translated into 19 different languages.

Your health, your safety: A guide for workers provides information about safety rights at work, the level of safety training that workers should expect from their employers, and who they should complain to if they believe their safety is being compromised by poor workplace practices. 2004 saw a number of fatalities involving migrant workers employed in the UK. With migrant workers being employed in many UK workplaces, often with only a limited grasp of English, HSE and the TUC were concerned that safety training delivered purely in English was not being understood.

The leaflets can be obtained from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/languages/index.htm

The leaflet is also available in English at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse27.pdf 

First Aid Rules – stay fit for purpose 

The overall finding of the first full review of the Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981 is that the rules for first aid provision are still fit for purpose.

The review attracted a large number of responses from the first aid community and employers revealing majority support for continuing with the current framework, and are considered a cost-effective way of ensuring delivery of first aid provision.

The HSE website features a section on first aid, for employers, employees, first aiders and training bodies across all industry sectors.

Further details are available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid 

Company News & Products

Schloetter Company Ltd

Schloetter announce a new range of products for the precious metals and PCB industries.

Microincide XP – a new PCB cleaner/microetch        

Miralloy® 2841 – a silver-like decorative bath

Orgasol Select – a novel, multisolderable organic solderability preservative (OSP)     

Palladium 457 – an improved high gloss palladium bath for the decorative and technical industries