News from around the World

News Archive

December 2010

Last call to notify substances to the Classification and Labelling Inventory

Importers and manufacturers must notify the correct classification and labelling of substances that are hazardous or subject to registration under REACH. There is no need to notify for substances which have already been registered under REACH unless the registered classification information needs to be updated. Companies have already submitted successfully more than 2 million notifications. You have until 3 January 2011, 24:00 GMT to notify your substances on their own or in mixtures irrespective of the tonnage.

REACH-IT will remain open from Monday 27 December 10.00 (GMT) to 30 December 19.00 (GMT). REACH-IT will also be open 24 hours on the last submission day, 3 January 2011. However, REACH-IT will only be open to accept notifications to the Classification and Labelling Inventory. REACH Registrations and other submissions will not be possible during these days.

The ECHA Helpdesk, which provides technical support on ECHA's IT tools and advice on provisions of the REACH and CLP Regulations will also respond to CLP questions between 27 December until 30 December 2010. Any final questions on CLP notifications need to be submitted by 17.00 GMT on 3 January so that companies can receive an answer in time to be able to make their submission by the deadline.

There are several tools available to help:

• Online REACH-IT module guides you step-by-step in creating and submitting your C&L notification: you can even simply "agree" with one of the 2 000 000 C&L notifications already made.
• Bulk Excel tool allows you to submit, in one go, up to 1 000 notifications. If the classification of your substance is already harmonised, enter the index number and the C&L information will be automatically filled in for you. The new version of the tool also fixes problems previously encountered with the German and French versions of the tool.
• IUCLID TCC plug-in checks the business rules for IUCLID 5 C&L notifications. Test your IUCLID 5 dossier before submission in REACH-IT.
• Group of manufacturers / importers tool reduces your submission effort: submit only one file on behalf of many manufacturers and importers.
• "View submitted C&L" menu in REACH-IT allows you to check all the C&L Notifications and Registrations according to the CLP criteria you have submitted.
• Guidance documents and manuals, published in 22 EU-languages, explain how to create your notifications and use the IT tools.

More information: https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/last-call-to-notify-substances-to-the-classification-and-labelling-inventory

New leadership team to take IOSH into next decade

The UK based IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health is to start the new year with a new team at the top to help the institution further its plans for growth and expansion.

Following a review carried out over the past 12 months by external consultants, a new Executive Director Team (EDT) has been created, comprising leaders for four divisions: corporate services, which will be led by Colin Gore; policy, to be directed by Luise Vassie; membership, headed up by Hazel Harvey; and commercial, which will have Caroline Holden at the helm.

From 1 January 2011, the new senior team will play a more strategic role within IOSH, assisting chief executive Rob Strange in implementing IOSH's strategy, staff development within each division, and delivery of operational outputs. Colin, Luise, Hazel and Caroline will work alongside Rob Strange to review all existing activities and departments within IOSH, with the view that they will each form part of one of the four new divisions. Each executive director will then be responsible for producing and developing business plans for their own division.

The existing IOSH senior management team (SMT) will remain and continue to provide rich experience and expertise within the Institution and for its 38,000+ members around the world.

Rob Strange said: "This is a positive move for IOSH, making the organisation stronger and allowing it to expand globally in the coming years. The Institution has grown substantially over the past decade and to make sure we have a steady growth in the future, reorganisation is essential.

"It's a well-known fact that all good organisations review themselves regularly - it's good for business and allows an organisation to develop further. IOSH has a lot to offer members and, by rethinking the internal structure, we will be able to reach out to occupational health and safety professionals worldwide and continue to provide them with quality advice, guidance and training in their fields."

www.iosh.co.uk

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ECHA recommends that eight substances of very high concern be subject to authorisation

The European Chemicals Agency has submitted to the European Commission a recommendation that eight chemical substances of very high concern should in future not be used without authorisation. Four of the substances are classified as both carcinogenic and toxic to reproduction, three as carcinogenic and one as toxic to reproduction. They are all used in processes or products to which workers or consumers are exposed.

The protection of human health and the environment is at the heart of REACH. Making these eight substances of very high concern (SVHCs) subject to authorisation seeks to ensure that their risks are properly controlled and that the substances are progressively replaced.

The eight substances are:

• Diisobutyl phthalate - DIBP (toxic to reproduction). A substance used as plasticiser for nitrocellulose, polyacrylate and polyacetate dispersions;
• Diarsenic trioxide - As203 (carcinogen). A substance used in the manufacture of glass with special properties and of zinc;
• Diarsenic pentaoxide - As205 (carcinogen). A substance which could be used as a replacement for diarsenic trioxide, no known current uses in the EU;
• Lead chromate (carcinogen and toxic to reproduction). A substance used as pigment and in the manufacture of pyrotechnics;
• Lead sulfochromate yellow - C.I. Pigment Yellow 34 (carcinogen and toxic to reproduction). A pigment used to colour plastics and coatings;
• Lead chromate molybdate sulphate red - C.I. Pigment Red 104 (carcinogen and toxic to reproduction). A pigment with similar uses as lead sulfochromate yellow;
• Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate - TCEP (toxic to reproduction). A substance used as a plasticiser and viscosity regulator with flame-retarding properties for coatings;
• 2,4-Dinitrotoluene - 2,4-DNT (carcinogen). A substance mainly used in explosives and propellants for ammunition.

The final decision on the inclusion of the substances in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation will eventually be taken by the European Commission following the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. Then, substances on the List can only be used within the EU when authorised for specific purposes.

Further Information: https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/echa-recommends-that-eight-substances-of-very-high-concern-be-subject-to-authorisation/

ECHA and the US EPA start working together

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) are about to start working together in the area of chemicals safety.

In line with the shared commitment to improve chemical safety, ECHA and the US EPA have signed a Statement of Intent to co-operate.

The aim is to strengthen the scientific dialogue between the EU and the US and to increase co-operation on technical matters and other issues of common interest including the hazards and emerging risks of chemical substances, risk management tools, scientific collaboration and information exchange.

One of the anticipated areas of collaboration will be on exchange of data and information. For example, the Statement of Intent will promote the exchange of public information on hazards, uses, and substance identification between ECHA and the EPA. Experience on the manner in which confidentiality claims are verified by the agencies will also be shared with the aim of maximising the information on chemicals available to the public both in the EU and the US, while giving due protection to industry's confidential information. The agencies will also be sharing information on approaches to more efficiently address chemicals of concern.

In practice, the co-operation will take place between ECHA and the EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics and National Centre for Computational Toxicology.

When signing the statement Geert Dancet, Executive Director of ECHA said "this Statement of Intent will lead the way to a closer co-operation between both regulatory authorities to the benefit of companies and citizens on both sides of the North-Atlantic Ocean".

https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/echa-and-the-us-epa-start-working-together

A new version of the OECD eChemPortal is now online

A new version of the eChemPortal has been launched yesterday by OECD. It provides free public access to information on more than 600 000 records on chemical substances.

By launching the new eChemPortal, the OECD has reached a new milestone in the long-standing international commitment to making publicly available information on chemical properties. This entirely revamped eChemPortal adds new useful features that enhance users' search functionalities.

Improvements include a search by chemical property, in addition to a search by substance name and identification number. For the first time, users can search for chemical using properties criteria such as physical chemical properties, environmental fate and behaviour, ecotoxicity and toxicity in the participating databases that can offer direct searching of endpoint data. All participating databases offer direct searching by substance identification. The information on existing chemicals, new industrial chemicals, pesticides and biocides is being made available by 19 participating databases gathering information prepared for government chemical review programmes at national, regional, and international levels.

Some of these, such as the ECHA dissemination database, US EPA Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource (ACToR), the United Kingdom Coordinated Chemicals Risk Management Programme Publications (UK CCRMP Outputs) and US Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Risk Information System (US EPA IRIS) have only recently adhered to this project.

New web links allow users to retrieve also information according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). This includes the GHS classification of approximately 1,500 chemicals stored by the Japanese government.

The new eChemPortal is a project developed by OECD in collaboration with ECHA.

This project is funded and hosted by ECHA.

• Link to eChemPortal: www.echemportal.org
• Help on how to use the eChemPortal: www.echemportal.org/echemportal/page.action?pageID=7

Design fires for use in fire safety engineering

This publication provides technical data and guidance on defining a robust and appropriate design fire for use in the fire safety engineering design of a building. It explains: what a design fire is; how it can be determined; the limitations of current methodologies; experimental data; calculation methods.

Current approaches to defining an appropriate design fire, ranging from the quantification of fuel load based on surveys of real buildings to experimental measurements, are described in detail.

Aimed at professionals involved in the fire safety engineering design process, either as designers fulfilling a brief or as regulators/approvers of the design, this guidance provides data that originate from a range of sources including fire tests undertaken by BRE Global. It can be used to source quantifiable parameters such as heat release rates and fire growth rates that are proportionate to the fire hazard foreseen.

Design fires for use in fire safety engineering
By C. Mayfield and D. Hopkin
BREPress, UK, 2010, 72 pages, ISBN 9781848061521

www.brebookshop.com/details.jsp?id=326600

ECHA adds eight substances to the Candidate List for Authorisation

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added eight chemical substances to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) for Authorisation. Companies are advised to check the potential obligations that result from this listing.

Following the unanimous agreement of the Member State Committee, ECHA is adding eight substances to the Candidate List, which now contains 46 substances in total. These eight substances, which are carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or reprotoxic (CMR) substances, are listed below. As foreseen by REACH, a specific procedure will be followed to decide whether the substances should also be included in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation, which constitutes the list of substances subject to Authorisation.

Companies manufacturing, importing or using these substances may have legal obligations resulting from their inclusion in the List. These obligations can apply to the listed substances on their own as well as in mixtures and in articles. A short summary of the obligations is available on ECHA's website.

More information: https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/echa-adds-eight-substances-to-the-candidate-list-for-authorisation

Quit your part in passive smoking

The World Health Organisation's first global study into the effects of passive smoking has found it causes 600,000 deaths every year, with children being the biggest casualties through exposure at home. Passive smoking causes heart disease, respiratory illness and lung cancer and is particularly harmful for children, putting them at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma.

Keep your household free from this disease-causing indoor air pollutant by:

• setting a quit date, sticking to it and telling your friends and family to get their support
• spring clean your life - get rid of all smoking materials from your home, office and car
• start a new hobby such as salsa dancing, cooking or painting to keep your body and mind busy and fight off difficult cravings. Withdrawal symptoms can be tough going, but are only temporary and a sign that you're doing well
• not going it alone - many organisations offer specialised support; call the quit smoking helpline on 0800 022 4332
• trying Nicotine Replacement Therapy products, such as gum, lozenges, patches or inhalers; they'll help take the edge off the cravings and can double your chance of quitting
• successfully opening a separate bank account for the money you'll save and start planning your dream family holiday
• being active; it'll take your mind off smoking, is good for your heart and you won't want to undo all that hard work with a nasty cigarette
• try out your newfound sense of taste and take the opportunity to make healthy changes to your diet.

This winter, make sure the puff from your mouth comes only from the crisp, clean fresh air and isn't a cloud of tobacco chemicals that are so harmful to everyone's heart and arteries.

For more information and advice about healthy living, contact Heart Research UK on 0113 297 6206 or email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk

Third International Certificate Program in Occupational Health Practice, September 2011 - May 2012

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) announces its Third "International Certificate Program in Occupational Health Practice" that starts in Sep 2011.

It is designed as a strong introduction to Occupational Health for company health professionals (doctors and nurses) worldwide who work in companies and organisations in developing countries or remote areas and do not have a formal academic training in OSH.

It is open for other professionals such as engineers, technicians or managers who want to strengthen their competencies in occupational health.

Advantages:

• It is 100% online and no travels are required
• Focuses on practical and evidence-based occupational health interventions
• Teaching is in English but assignments can be sent back in five languages: English, French, German, Spanish and (limited) in Arabic.
• Instructors are an international group of faculty with overseas experience
• Teaching is instructor-led with individual feedbacks for an intensive learning experience
• Courses can be taken individually
• Discount options for institutions/companies with multiple participants are available

The Program offers three courses during a nine month period (about 340 total hours):

• Foundations in Occupational Health Practice (10 weeks) Sep - Nov 2011
• Clinical Occupational Medicine and Medical Surveillance (8 weeks) Jan - Mar 2012
• Management in Occupational Health Practice (8 weeks) Apr - May 2012

Participants come from companies and organizations around the world, for instance from China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, or Chile.

Details available at www.uic.edu/sph/glakes/ce/IntPrgOHP.html

For questions please contact: Dr. Norbert Wagner MD, PhD, Director, International Certificate Program in Occupational Health Practice, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) | Email: NLWagner@uic.edu

Guidelines for Conduct of Operations for Process Safety

Process safety management (PSM) systems are only as effective as the day-to-day ability of the organization to rigorously execute system requirements correctly every time. The failure of just one person in completing a job task correctly just one time can unfortunately lead to serious injuries and potentially catastrophic incidents.

In fact, the design, implementation, and daily execution of PSM systems are all dependent on workers at all levels in the organization doing their job tasks correctly every time. High levels of Operational Discipline, therefore, help ensure strong PSM performance and overall operational excellence.

This book details management practices which help ensure rigor in executing process safety programs in order to prevent major accidents.

Guidelines for Conduct of Operations for Process Safety
Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), Wiley, February 2011, 240 pages, ISBN 9780470767719

http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470767715.html

Safety Professional's Reference and Study Guide

Written as a reference and study guide for candidates preparing to take the Board of Certified Safety Professional's exam, this book provides technical information needed for the test. It covers topics such as math review, ventilation, noise, gases and particulates, radiation, toxicology, industrial hygiene, biological hazards, thermal stressors, statistics, fire protection and prevention, accident investigation, mechanics, hydrostatics and hydraulics, electrical safety, engineering economy and worker's compensation.

The book provides step-by-step instructions on how to solve the equations and formulas on the exam and gives examples on how and when to use them.

Safety Professional's Reference and Study Guide
By David W. Yates, CRC Press Inc - Taylor & Francis Inc, 17 December 2010, 580 pages, ISBN 9781439834855

Ergonomics: Improving Health, Safety, Quality and Productivity

Written for health and safety professionals, this volume provides a broad understanding of the discipline of ergonomics and how it can be applied in a cost effective manner to businesses.

Ergonomics: Improving Health, Safety, Quality and Productivity
By Elizabeth de Mello Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd - Elsevier Science & Technology, 3 December 2010, 256 pages, ISBN 9780750644426

Elements of Industrial Hazards: Health, Safety, Environment and Loss Prevention

An introductory course on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) as applicable to all manufacturing and exploration engineering industries. Its first part deals with fundamentals, ecology and environmental engineering and covers air and water pollution sources, magnitude, measuring techniques and remedial measures to minimize them. The second part deals with industrial hazards, health and safety. It includes standards, strategies, risk assessment and accident analysis. The last part treats eight elements of HSE management, which is currently a critical activity for virtually any engineering business. Intended for a wide audience active in the engineering, ranging from the plant supervisor to HSE consultants to operators in the field.

Elements of Industrial Hazards: Health, Safety, Environment and Loss Prevention
By Ratan Raj Tatiya, CRC Press Inc - Taylor & Francis Inc., 1 December 2010, 426 pages, ISBN 9780415886451