Division 20
Chemicals
Requirements for all chemicals
These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties
Enforced by HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by the work. Chemical manufacture is high-hazard — process, plant and substance risks all engage HASWA. NI: Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
Employers' Liability Insurance
Enforced by HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Compulsory for any business employing at least one person.
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)
Applies to any business processing personal data — staff, customers, suppliers. ICO data protection fee payable unless specifically exempt.
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by EHRC
Equality Act 2010
Discrimination, harassment and victimisation prohibited across nine protected characteristics in employment and services. NI: separate equality legislation enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and maintain fire-safety arrangements. Particularly demanding where flammable solvents and dangerous substances are present (read with DSEAR). Devolved: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006; Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006.
Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
Enforced by FIRE_AUTHORITY
Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
The Scottish devolved equivalent of the Fire Safety Order: the duty holder must carry out a fire risk assessment and maintain fire-safety arrangements. Particularly demanding where flammable solvents and dangerous substances are present (read with DSEAR). Enforced by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
Enforced by FIRE_AUTHORITY
Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
The Northern Ireland devolved equivalent of the Fire Safety Order: fire-safety duties on non-domestic premises, enforced by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Particularly demanding where flammable solvents and dangerous substances are present (read with DSEAR).
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Enforced by HSE
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Assess, prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances; monitor exposure and provide health surveillance where required. Central control for every chemical maker handling hazardous substances. NI: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres (DSEAR)
Enforced by HSE
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
Assess and control fire, explosion and similar energetic-event risks from flammable, oxidising and unstable substances; zone hazardous areas and select compliant equipment (see the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016, uksi/2016/1107). NI: DSEAR (Northern Ireland) 2003.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWER)
Enforced by HSE
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Work equipment — reactors, mixers, conveyors, packing lines — must be suitable, maintained, inspected and safe to use. Reads with the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 for pressurised chemical plant.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Enforced by HSE
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Avoid hazardous manual handling so far as reasonably practicable, then assess and reduce the risk of injury — drums, sacks, IBCs and packaged product are routine in chemical manufacture.
UK REACH — registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals
Enforced by HSE
UK REACH Regulation (assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006); REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008
Manufacturers (and importers) of substances at 1 tonne/year or more must register them with the HSE-run UK REACH service, supply safety data sheets down the chain, and comply with authorisation and restriction requirements. This applies to every chemical maker. NI continues to operate EU REACH under the Windsor Framework. Enforced by HSE with the Environment Agency / devolved environmental regulators.
GB CLP — classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
Enforced by HSE
GB CLP Regulation (assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008)
Substances and mixtures placed on the GB market must be classified for their hazards, labelled with the correct pictograms, signal words and hazard/precautionary statements, and packaged safely (including child-resistant fastenings and tactile warnings where required). HSE is the GB CLP agency. NI continues to apply EU CLP under the Windsor Framework.