REACH for chemical protection
REACH is the new European system for identifying and controlling risks from the use of chemicals. It stands for: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals
For m&e contractors the main changes are likely to be:
- the exchange of much more information about chemical hazards and use; and
- changes (or even bans) linked to the use of particularly hazardous substances.
The latest advice from the HSE says: "Generally, if you are using (everyday) chemicals or mixtures of them (e.g. adhesives, lubricants, cleaning agents) then REACH probably won't mean significant changes".
However, "if your company relies on using unusual chemicals be sure that these will still be available in the future. Consider contacting your supplier to find out if the (substance or mixture) in question will be registered by whoever makes or imports it. It is possible that some companies may decide not to register chemicals (that have been previously supplied)".
In this situation, a company may need to find an alternative source or even re-design their process. HSE says that companies "really need to be thinking about this now to avoid any problems...".
Main aims of REACH
REACH aims to keep high hazard chemicals out of the EU market, provide improved information in the supply chain, move responsibility for identifying risk control measures onto registrants* (e.g. manufacturers) and restrict certain uses of substances.
Under REACH, chemical suppliers will decide on when and how their products should be used. This is the 'supported use' principle and it is very important for REACH compliance. Users must implement the risk control measures specified by the supplier.
REACH should result in better information being available to users about the risks of using substances, and how to control them. Significantly, REACH also includes the movement of information back up the supply chain (e.g. from contractors via suppliers to registrants). This provides a new channel for recording user's experience of 'real life' chemical hazards, and passing these to manufacturers or importers.
Although REACH will replace part of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIP) on 'Safety Data Sheets' it does not replace COSHH. COSHH aims to control risks (often from airborne exposure) from the use of any type of hazardous substance at work, including process materials as welding fume etc. that are not within the scope of REACH).
Users must still do a risk assessment under COSHH, but the aims are different: The REACH assessment aims to convince someone else that the chemical is being used safely to get permission to carry on doing that kind of work.
For more information:
Visit the REACH page under Regulations