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IMFormation December 2011
To all Suppliers and users of Cyanide salts
In September 2011 a London Coroner sent an open letter addressed to Trade Associations
and other Organisations who use Cyanide in order to “bring to their
attention the circumstances in which a young lady took her life having readily
obtained potassium cyanide on the internet” in the hope that by highlighting the
wider dangers, future fatalities will be prevented.
When police arrived at her address it was not immediately apparent that cyanide
was involved so they took no protective measures. Not only were they exposed
to risk but also were Funeral Directors, Pathologist, Mortuary Staff and Family
Members.
Suppliers of chemicals will be aware of the provisions of the Poisons Act 1972
and Poisons Rules 1982 whereby it is unlawful to sell or supply cyanide based
products unless there is an exemption which applies to ‘wholesale dealings’ or
‘use by purchasers in their trade or business’. Even so there is a requirement to
exercise due diligence and to comply with certain regulations unless the customer
is known to the Supplier.
In this particular case the purchaser claimed to need the product for her jewellery
work and it is assumed that no further checks were made prior to dispatch. It is
not known whether the substance was obtained in the United Kingdom or from
abroad.
As responsible members and sustaining member companies of The Institute of
Metal Finishing we are asked to ensure that that there is adherence to the stringent
controls on the use of these products in order to prevent the possibility of a similar
occurrence.
Wednesday 7th December 2011
Christmas Lectures, Institute Awards, Christmas Luncheon and
Institute Annual General Meeting
Have you advised Exeter House that you will be in attendance?
Contact Ken Hoare on 0121 622 7387 or Email:
ken@instituteofmetalfinishing.org
Health,Safety & Environment
Major incident at chemical firm
A chemical manufacturer has been fined £25,000 with
£15,000 costs for putting workers’ lives in danger.
An employee had been adding a solid chemical into a
vessel containing a liquid chemical. He wrongly
assumed he could increase the rate at which the
chemical was added when they initially failed to react.
The chemicals then reacted rapidly, leading to an
uncontrolled ‘runaway reaction’. Luckily, none of the
workers were in the production area when the alarms
(set off by the incident) began to ring. One of them
returned to investigate but was driven back by the
fumes and fled the building.
The HSE investigation concluded the company had
failed to adequately assess the risks of the chemical
reaction and ensure that suitable control measures were
in place. It found the employee had not received
adequate training, instruction and supervision on the
operating procedures, and did not appreciate the
dangers of increasing the quantity of the chemicals.
Speaking after the hearing, the investigating HSE
inspector said ‘It is only luck that none of the company
staff were in the area at the time of the incident as it is
unlikely they would have been able to escape
unharmed without help. They would have been at
serious risk from toxic chemical exposure, or a flash
fire or explosion if flammable vapours released had
ignited, and could have sustained permanent injuries
or even been killed’.
Chemical Business Association (CBA)
The CBA has branded the Health & Safety Executive’s
(HSE) plans to extend cost recovery as the equivalent
of seeking a blank cheque from industry to compensate
for cuts in its departmental budget. This would see
plant owner/operators charged for any ‘material
breach’ found by its Inspectors and for any ‘formal
intervention’ required.
Responding to an HSE consultative document on the
process termed ‘Fees for Intervention’, CBA describes
the proposal as being ‘opaque, lacking fairness or
accountability’. It adds that the “absence of
transparency conclusively reveals the policy objectives
of ‘Fees for Intervention’ as revenue generation.” The
consultative document fails to make clear what
precisely constitutes a ‘material breach’ or a ‘formal
intervention.’ There is also no identifiable point at
which the extended cost recovery regime is triggered.
Under the new regime, HSE plan to recover its costs
at the rate of around £1,000 per day, although this may
be higher if external consultants are used.
Read more on:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/procces-engineeering/
cba-hse-wants-a-blank-cheque-from-chemical-
ndustry/1010648.article#ixzz1bh0grx45
European Chemical Agency (ECHA)
Draft Community Rolling Action Plan
The plan, as of 21 October, introduces 91 substances
that are proposed for review by the Member States
under the substances evaluation process of the REACH
regulations. The plan includes substances for which
there is a suspicion that their use could pose a risk to
human life or the environment.
The list of substances is far too long to print here but
can be viewed on the web at:
hhtp://echa.europa.eu/doc/reach/evaluation/background_
doc_criteria_ed_32_2011.pdf
Company News and Products
Surface Processing Ltd
Bodyshell E-coating corrosion protection.
Surface Processing Ltd is pleased to announce it can
now offer new car standard corrosion protection for
classic car owners and motorsport markets.
E-coating is applied to the majority of new cars and
was designed to provide increased front line defence
against body corrosion. As Managing Director Adrian
McMurray says ‘Coupled with our fully immersion
chemical cleaning process, that removes the majority
of corrosion before the e-coating treatment, it is an
excellent solution for ensuring the longevity of a
steel-bodied car that may not have received the
treatment first time around’.
For further information Tel: ++44(0) 1384 242010 or
Email: sales@surfaceprocessing.co.uk or look on the
web: www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk
Nickel Institute
Workshop on REACH Authorisation
The Nickel Institute invites you to the above workshop
to be followed by an end-of-year reception on
8 December 2011 at the Hotel Silkens Berlaymont
Brussels.
The workshop will be from 09.00 – 17.00 with the
reception from 18.00 –20.00 at the Sofitel Hotel,
Brussels.
Further information and agenda contact Isaline de
Baré, E-mail: idbare@nickelinstitute.org
National Metals Technology Centre
Metallurgical Failure Analysis and Prevention
Rotherham – 24th March 2012
This training course enables delegates to determine
how and why a metal component has failed or fractured
during service and identify means of detecting
and preventing such failures in future.
Further details Tel: 01709 724990 or
Email: Info@namtec.co.uk
IMF News
New Members & Transfers
Affiliate
Janczewski, Simon Royal Mint
Khatri, Mohammed Godrej & Boyce
Mhatre, Rupesh Godrej & Boyce
Mishra, Somshamkar Godrej & Boyce
Nalgirkar, Vinayak Godrej & Boyce
Member (MIMF)
Groake, Mark PMS Diecasting
Hoodless, Roger BAE Systems
Ryder, Mark University of Leicester
Examination Results– 5 October 2011
Paint, Lacquer & Varnish Module
Whittle, Gareth #` BAE Systems
Awarded a Technician certificate with Distinction
having passed 2 TC modules
Principles of Electroplating Module
Blair, Lynn * Abbey Metal Finishing
Foundation Certificate
Anderson, Chris Abbey Metal Finishing
Churchill, Ronald * Interplex PMP
Dunn, John * TMD Technologies Ltd
Frimpong, Frank # Sarantel Ltd
Jones, Mark Martec Ltd
Kirkpatrick, Robert Interplex PMP
Mason, Liam Daido Industrial Bearings
Milne, Derek Interplex PMP
Phillips, Michael * Abbey Metal Finishing
Solly, Matthew Eaton Aerospace Ltd
Warner, Christopher* AEM Ltd
* Pass with Merit, # Pass with Distinction
New Sustaining Members
Technetix Ltd
Communications House,
Edward Way, Burgess Hill
West Sussex, RH15 9TZ
Tel: 01444 251200
Email: paul.chapman@technetix.com
Web: www.technetix.com
Technetix has developed a unique perspective on
broadband technologies and the plated and painted
finishes on our equipment are integral to their
performance. We focus on becoming a technology
partner to our customers, providing each with solutions
designed to evolve the performance of their network
while driving down costs.
Foundry Technology (UK) Ltd
80-82, Birchfield Lane, Oldbury
West Midland B69 2AY
Tel: 0121 552 1999. Fax: 0121 684 0824
Email: kash@foundrytechnology.co.uk
Web: www.foundrytechnology.co.uk
Foundry Technology has a very large stock of new and
second-hand shotblasting machines in the UK. This is
supported by a team of experts who can assist in the
whole process from purchasing and installing to aftermarket
service, support and supply required to make
your shotblast machine a profitable investment.
Sustaining member changes
Wheelabrator Group Ltd
107-109 Whitby Road, Slough
Berks SL1 3DR
Tel: 01753 215673, Fax: 01753 215670
Email: chris.pallot@noricangroup.com
Web: www.wheelabratorgroup.com
Surface Finishing Engineering Ltd
Units C, D & E, John Harper Street,
Willenhall, West Midlands WV13 1RE
Tel: 01902 602568, Fax: 01902 602944
Email: p.delveir@sfeuk.com
Web: www.sfeuk.com
Next Education & Training Enrolment
The next enrolment for any of the Institute’s Tutored
Courses or Distance Learning Modules will take place
on:
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Newly introduced modules available for study towards
the Technician Certificate and the Advanced Technician
Certificate include:
Electroforming
Material Science
Interested students should contact David Meacham at
Exeter House on Tel: 0121 622 7387 or by Email on:
david@instituteofmetalfinishing.org
Out and About
EXPO-SURFACE – Exhibition of Corrosion
Protection Technology and Surface Treatment
27-29 March 2012
Kielce Trade Fair, Poland
Further details email:
expo-surface@targikielce.pl
JEC Composites Show, Paris, France
27 – 31 March 2012
Details: www.industrie-expo.com
SITS 2012 Surface Treatment Technologies
Paris, France, March (date to be announced)
Details: www.industrie-expo.com
ACHEMA 2012 – 30th World Congress
Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 18 – 22 June
Details: www.achema.de
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