TUC alert on chemicals shake up at work

TUC alert on chemicals shake up at work

The TUC says union safety reps should make sure their employers are ready to meet new legal duties on workplace chemicals. The union body, which this week published new online safety rep guidance on the REACH regulations, says two important implementation deadlines are approaching. These require many of the high volume and most hazardous chemicals to be registered with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by 30 November. There's also a 1 December deadline for notifying ECHA of the revised classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals. TUC adds that some chemical safety data sheets may have to be updated. It says: 'If any employers your union deals with manufacture, sell or use chemicals they may be affected, and unions are encouraged to ensure that their employer is complying with the new regulations. If they fail to do so they could face enforcement action.' TUC says safety reps in firms using chemicals should check with the employer whether: Their classification should be changed under the new rules; they are labelled in line with the rules; all uses are covered by updated safety data sheets; and the required risk assessment measures have been implemented. TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson commented: 'REACH has the potential to make a major improvement to the health of workers. Exposure to chemicals is one of the biggest causes of death. They are used in most industries and workplaces. That is why safety representatives need to make sure that their employer knows what their responsibilities are and that they are ensuring workers are not exposed to anything that might harm them.' European trade union bodies ETUC and EMCEF this month launched an 'extensive' information campaign, calling on 'elected representatives in companies in Europe to raise awareness on employers' obligations' under REACH and related classification, labelling and packaging regulations on chemicals.

REACH - A briefing for safety representatives, TUC, September 2010. ETUC news release and leaflet.