Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Made: 31st March 2000

Coming into operation: 1st June 2000

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Citation and commencement

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Interpretation

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Duties under these Regulations

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Prohibitions relating to certain substances

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Application of regulations 6 to 12

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Assessment of health risks created by work involving substances hazardous to health

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Prevention or control of exposure to substances hazardous to health

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Use of control measures, etc.

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Maintenance, examination and test of control measures, etc.

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Monitoring exposure at the workplace

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Health surveillance

11

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Information, instruction and training for persons who may be exposed to substances hazardous to health

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Provisions relating to certain fumigations

13

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Exemption certificates

14

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Application

15

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Defence in proceedings for contravention of these Regulations

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Exemptions relating to the Ministry of Defence, etc.

17

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Revocations and savings

18

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Extension of meaning of “work” and “at work”

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Modification of Article 5(2) of the 1978 Order

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SCHEDULE 1 — Other Substances and Processes to which the definition of “Carcinogen” relates

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SCHEDULE 2 — Prohibition of Certain Substances Hazardous to Health for Certain Purposes

1

2-naphthylamine; benzidine; 4-aminodiphenyl; 4-nitrodiphenyl; their salts and any substance containing any of those compounds, in a total con-centration equal to or greater than 0·1 per cent by mass.

2

Sand or other substance containing free silica.

3

A substance—

• (a) containing compounds of silicon calculated as silica to the extent of more than 3 per cent by weight of dry material, other than natural sand, zirconium silicate (zircon), calcined china clay, calcined aluminous fireclay, sillimanite, calcined or fused alumina, olivine; or

• (b) composed of or containing dust or other matter deposited from a fettling or blasting process.

4

Carbon disulphide.

5

Oils other than white oil, or oil of entirely animal or vegetable origin or entirely of mixed animal and vegetable origin.

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Ground or powdered flint or quartz other than natural sand.

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Ground or powdered flint or quartz other than—

• (a) natural sand; or

• (b) ground or powdered flint or quartz which forms parts of a slop or paste.

8

Dust or powder of a refractory material containing not less than 80 per cent of silica other than natural sand.

9

White phosphorus.

10

Hydrogen cyanide.

11

Benzene and any substance containing benzene in a concentration equal to or greater than 0·1 per cent by mass, other than—

• (a) motor fuels covered by Council Directive 85/210/EEC (OJ No. L96, 3.4.85, p. 25);

• (b) waste covered by Council Directive 75/442/EEC (OJ No. L194, 25.7.75, p. 39), as amended by Council Directives 91/156/EEC (OJ No. L78, 26.3.91, p. 32) and 91/689/EEC (OJ No. L377, 31.12.91, p. 20).

12

The following substances—

• Chloroform CAS No. 67–66–3;

• Carbon Tetrachloride CAS No. 56–23–5;

• 1,1,2 Trichloroethane CAS No. 79–00–5;

• 1,1,2,2 Tetrachloroethane CAS No. 79–34–5;

• 1,1,1,2 Tetrachloro-ethane CAS No. 630–20–6;

• Pentachloroethane Vinylidene chloride CAS No. 76–01–7;

• (1,1 Dichloroethylene CAS No. 75–35–4;

• 1,1,1 Trichloroethane CAS No. 71–55–6,

SCHEDULE 3 — Special Provisions Relating to Biological Agents

Part I

Interpretation

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Application

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Classification of biological agents

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Assessment of health risks

4

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Prevention of exposure to a biological agent

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Control of exposure to biological agents

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Special control measures for health and veterinary care facilities

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Special control measures for laboratories, animal rooms and industrial processes

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Examination and maintenance of personal protective equipment

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Information for employees

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List of employees exposed to certain biological agents

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Notification of the use of biological agents

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Notification of the consignment of biological agents

13

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Notification to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

14

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Part II — Containment Measures for Health and Vetrinary Care Facilities, Laboratories and Animal Rooms

1

The workplace is to be separated from any other activities in the same building.

2

Input air and extract air to the workplace are to be filtered using high efficiency particulate absorption filters tested in accordance with and matching the requirements of BS: 3928 or equivalent.

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Access is to be restricted to authorised persons only.

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The workplace is to be sealable to permit disinfection.

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Specified disinfection procedures.

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The workplace is to be maintained at an air pressure negative to atmosphere.

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Efficient vector control e.g. rodents and insects.

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Surfaces impervious to water and easy to clean.

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Surfaces resistant to acids, alkalis, solvents, disinfectants.

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Safe storage of biological agents.

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An observation window, or alternative, is to be present, so that occupants can be seen.

12

A laboratory is to contain its own equipment.

13

Infected material, including any animal, is to be handled in a safety cabinet or isolator or other suitable containment.

14

Incinerator for disposal of animal carcasses.

Part III — Containment Measures for Industrial Processes

1

Viable micro-organisms should be contained in a system which physically separates the process from the environment (closed system).

2

Exhaust gases from the closed system should be treated so as to—

3

Sample collection, addition of materials to a closed system and transfer of viable micro-organisms to another closed system, should be performed so as to—

4

Bulk culture fluids should not be removed from the closed system unless the viable micro-organisms have been—

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Seals should be designed so as to—

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Closed systems should be located within a controlled area—

7

Effluent treatment before final discharge.

Part IV — Biohazard Sign

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Part V — List of Biological Agents Referred to in Paragraphs 12(2), 13(1) and (3) and 14 of Part I

SCHEDULE 4 — Frequency of Thorough Examination and Test of Local Exhaust Ventilation Plant Used in Certain Processes

Column 1	Column 2
Process	Minimum frequency
Processes in which blasting is carried out in or incidental to the cleaning of metal castings, in connection with their manufacture.	1 month
Processes, other than wet processes, in which metal articles (other than of gold, platinum or iridium) are ground, abraded or polished using mechanical power, in any room for more than 12 hours in any week.	6 months
Processes giving off dust or fume in which non-ferrous metal castings are produced.	6 months
Jute cloth manufacture.	1 month

SCHEDULE 5 — Specific Substances and Processes for which Monitoring is Required

Column 1	Column 2
Substance or process	Minimum frequency
Vinyl chloride monomer.	Continuous or in accordance with a procedure approved by the Executive.
Spray given off from vessels at which an electrolytic chromium process is carried on except trivalent chromium.	Every 14 days while the process is being carried on.

SCHEDULE 6 — Medical Surveillance

Column 1	Column 2
Substances for which medical surveillance is appropriate	Process
Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).	In manufacture, production, reclamation, storage, discharge, transport, use or polymerisation.
Nitro or amino derivatives of phenol and of benzene or its homologues.	In the manufacture of nitro or amino derivatives of phenol and of benzene or its homologues and the making of explosives with the use of any of these substances.
Potassium or sodium chromate or dichromate.	In manufacture.
Ortho-tolidine and its salts. Dianisidine and its salts. Dichlorobenzidine and its salts.	In manufacture, formation or use of these substances.
Auramine. Magenta.	In manufacture.
Carbon disulphide. Disulphur dichloride. Benzene, including benzol. Carbon tetrachloride. Trichloroethylene.	Processes in which these substances are used, or given off as vapour, in the manufacture of indiarubber or of articles or goods made wholly or partially of indiarubber.
Pitch.	In manufacture of blocks of fuel consisting of coal, coal dust, coke or slurry with pitch as a binding substance.

SCHEDULE 7 — Fumigations Excepted from Regulation 13

Column 1	Column 2
Fumigant	Nature of fumigation
Hydrogen cyanide.	Fumigations carried out for research. Fumigations in fumigation chambers. Fumigations in the open air to control or kill mammal pests.
Methyl bromide.	Fumigations carried out for research. Fumigations in fumigation chambers. Fumigations of soil outdoors under gas-proof sheeting where not more than 1,000 kg is used in any period of 24 hours on the premises. Fumigations of soil under gas-proof sheeting in glasshouses where not more than 500 kg is used in any period of 24 hours on the premises. Fumigations of compost outdoors under gas-proof sheeting where not more than 10 kg of methyl bromide is used in any period of 24 hours on the premises. Fumigations under gas-proof sheeting inside structures other than glasshouses and mushroom houses where not more than 5 kg of methyl bromide is used in each structure during any period of 24 hours. Fumigations of soil or compost in mushroom houses where not more than 5 kg of methyl bromide is used in any one fumigation in any period of 24 hours. Fumigations of containers where not more than 5 kg of methyl bromide is used in any one fumigation in a period of 24 hours.
Phosphine.	Fumigations carried out for research. Fumigations in fumigation chambers. Fumigations under gas-proof sheeting inside structures where not more than 1 kg of phosphine in each structure is used in any period of 24 hours. Fumigations in containers where not more than 0·5 kg of phosphine is used in any one fumigation in any period of 24 hours. Fumigations in individual impermeable packages. Fumigations in the open air to control or kill mammal pests.

SCHEDULE 8 — Notification of Certain Fumigations

Part I — Persons to Whom Notifications Must Be Made

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Part II — Information to be Given in Advance Notice of Fumigations

3

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SCHEDULE 9 — Application

Interpretation

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Offshore installations

2

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Pipelines

3

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Other activities

4

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Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on 31st March 2000.

Adrianne L. Brown — A senior officer of the — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Explanatory note

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Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Economic Development; see S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1), Article 3(5)

[^f00002]: See Article 2(2) of S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9)

[^f00003]: Article 17 must be read with S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), Articles 3(2) and 4(2); S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17) was amended by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), Article 71(1) and Schedule 6

[^f00004]: S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9); the general purposes of Part II referred to in Article 17(1) were extended by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), Articles 3(1) and 4(1). Article 47A was inserted by Article 3, and Article 2 was amended by Articles 4 and 8, of S.I. 1997/1774 (N.I. 16)

[^f00005]: Article 46(1) was amended by S.I. 1998/2795 (N.I. 18), Article 6(1) and Schedule 1, paragraphs 8 and 18

[^f00006]: S.R. 1995 No. 60 as amended by S.R. 1996 No. 376, S.R. 1997 No. 455, S.R. 1998 No. 459 and S.R. 1999 No. 150

[^f00007]: 1974 c. 37

[^f00008]: 1969 c. 6 (N.I.)

[^f00009]: 1984 c. 24

[^f00010]: 1983 c. 54

[^f00011]: S.R. 1998 No. 281 as amended by S.R. 1999 No. 150

[^f00012]: S.R. 1988 No. 74 as amended by S.R. 1993 No. 26 and S.R. 1999 No. 150

[^f00013]: S.I. 1992/3139 as amended by S.I. 1993/3074 and S.I. 1994/2326

[^f00014]: 1952 c. 67

[^f00015]: 1964 c. 5

[^f00016]: S.R. 1995 No. 51

[^f00017]: S.R. 1999 No. 36

[^f00018]: S.I. 1996/2925

[^f00019]: 1968 c. 67

[^f00020]: The order-making power conferred by sections 104 and 105 of the Medicines Act 1968 was extended as respects Northern Ireland by section 134 of, and Schedule 4 to, that Act

[^f00021]: S.R. 1994 No. 143 as amended by S.R. 1996 No. 250, S.R. 1999 No. 14 and S.R. 1999 No. 150

[^f00022]: 1964 c. 29; section 1 was amended by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23), Schedule 3, paragraph 1

Editorial notes

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