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Recent Safety and Environmental Legislation
RECENT SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
DEVELOPMENTS IN SAFETY LEGISLATIONUK
GERMANY
HSE is Adapting to the Changing World says Chief Executive
The Biofuel Quota Law (Bundesgesetzblatt I, No. 62, pp 3180–3188, 21 December 2006) requires the addition of biological components to gasoline and diesel, with an increase from 6.25% in 2009 up to 8.0% in 2015. A higher tax must also be paid. The Law on the Realization of the Emission Protection Law (BGBl I, No. 3, pp 60–63, 7 February 2007) contains details on how to apply the Biofuel Quota Law, for example how to fulfil the requirements of the quota, the control of the quality of biofuel and necessary tests. The Law on the Reorganization of Regulations on the Prevention of Cruelty (BGBl I, No. 64, pp 3294–3315, 27 December 2006) implements guidelines of the EC into German legislation. It applies to the breeding of cattle, buffalos, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. According to the Law on the Installation of Combined Data of Police Authorities and Intelligent Services of the Federal and State Governments (BGBl I, No. 66, pp 3409–3415, 30 December 2006) central anti-terror data are collected by the federal criminal investigation authority on persons, who are member of a terrorist group or support such groups, or who try to get through political or religious aims by force, or who are in connection with individual terrorists or terrorist groups. The law also regulates access to this data. According to the Law on a Supplement to the Antiterrorism Law (BGBl I, No.1, pp 2–9, 10 January 2007) the federal constitution protection authority is allowed to ask for data, which are collected by post and telecom companies, if there is a strong suspicion, that the concerned person is very dangerous. The parliamentary control committee must be informed at least every six months. The Nuclear Technical Committee (KTA) has published some drafts of updated guidelines (Bundesanzeiger BAnz No. 5, p 248, 9 January 2007), in particular KTA 1504 Control of the Discharge of Radioactive Water; KTA 3201.3 Components of the Primary Circuit of Power Plants, Part 3 Production; KTA 3205.3 Construction of Support Components with Nonintegral Connections; and KTA 3904 Control Room, Emergency Control Systems and Local Control Systems in Nuclear Power Plants.
Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive, outlined the health and safety challenges facing the modern workplace in a speech at the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) conference, at the International Centre, Telford on 28 March 2007. He explained how the world of work had changed since the Health and Safety at Work Act was first introduced in 1974. He told the conference: “If we are going to ensure the world of work is as safe and as sustainable as possible, then we need to be flexible enough to respond effectively to the challenges as they arise.” Mr Podger reiterated that a flexible and resolute approach will be required to respond to constantly changing work environments and make them as safe, healthy and sustainable in the future. A key aspect of his speech was to outline the new ways that HSE are working in response to these changing times, “Partnership is one of our key strategic themes. We cannot be responsible for improving the nation’s occupational health and safety on our own.” HSE is working very closely with local authorities, and other organizations such as the Institute of Directors (IoD) to achieve mutual objectives. Through a new authoritative guidance on directors’ responsibilities for health and safety, HSE with the IoD is reaching out to boards and directors to secure their commitment to ensure successful health and safety performance. Mr Podger also urged sensible risk management, saying that the principle of health and safety was to ensure the good health of all, and not to stop people living normal lives. Sensible risk management is about taking practical steps that benefit all. The HSE has seen much progress since the year 2000. The average days lost per worker due to work related ill health and injury has dropped from 1.8 to 1.3. However, he stressed there was no room for complacency – there were still 28 million working days lost each year due to ill health, while occupational ill health costs the UK economy over E`11 billion each year. Setting out a clear challenge for employers Mr Podger concluded, “Health and safety will always be a ‘Forth Bridge’ problem: as soon as restoration is finished, the need is to start again. Nevertheless, we have seen improvements – the challenge to all of us is to maintain our present success whilst working on new and reactive areas.”
Manfred Laser
Selected by Dave Phillips from information given on HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk
DOI: 10.1205/psep.re.0703 0957–5820/07/$30.00 þ 0.00 Trans IChemE, Part B, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, May 2007 # 2007 Institution of Chemical Engineers
Vol 85 (B3) 265
DEVELOPMENTS IN SAFETY LEGISLATIONUK
GERMANY
HSE is Adapting to the Changing World says Chief Executive
The Biofuel Quota Law (Bundesgesetzblatt I, No. 62, pp 3180–3188, 21 December 2006) requires the addition of biological components to gasoline and diesel, with an increase from 6.25% in 2009 up to 8.0% in 2015. A higher tax must also be paid. The Law on the Realization of the Emission Protection Law (BGBl I, No. 3, pp 60–63, 7 February 2007) contains details on how to apply the Biofuel Quota Law, for example how to fulfil the requirements of the quota, the control of the quality of biofuel and necessary tests. The Law on the Reorganization of Regulations on the Prevention of Cruelty (BGBl I, No. 64, pp 3294–3315, 27 December 2006) implements guidelines of the EC into German legislation. It applies to the breeding of cattle, buffalos, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. According to the Law on the Installation of Combined Data of Police Authorities and Intelligent Services of the Federal and State Governments (BGBl I, No. 66, pp 3409–3415, 30 December 2006) central anti-terror data are collected by the federal criminal investigation authority on persons, who are member of a terrorist group or support such groups, or who try to get through political or religious aims by force, or who are in connection with individual terrorists or terrorist groups. The law also regulates access to this data. According to the Law on a Supplement to the Antiterrorism Law (BGBl I, No.1, pp 2–9, 10 January 2007) the federal constitution protection authority is allowed to ask for data, which are collected by post and telecom companies, if there is a strong suspicion, that the concerned person is very dangerous. The parliamentary control committee must be informed at least every six months. The Nuclear Technical Committee (KTA) has published some drafts of updated guidelines (Bundesanzeiger BAnz No. 5, p 248, 9 January 2007), in particular KTA 1504 Control of the Discharge of Radioactive Water; KTA 3201.3 Components of the Primary Circuit of Power Plants, Part 3 Production; KTA 3205.3 Construction of Support Components with Nonintegral Connections; and KTA 3904 Control Room, Emergency Control Systems and Local Control Systems in Nuclear Power Plants.
Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive, outlined the health and safety challenges facing the modern workplace in a speech at the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) conference, at the International Centre, Telford on 28 March 2007. He explained how the world of work had changed since the Health and Safety at Work Act was first introduced in 1974. He told the conference: “If we are going to ensure the world of work is as safe and as sustainable as possible, then we need to be flexible enough to respond effectively to the challenges as they arise.” Mr Podger reiterated that a flexible and resolute approach will be required to respond to constantly changing work environments and make them as safe, healthy and sustainable in the future. A key aspect of his speech was to outline the new ways that HSE are working in response to these changing times, “Partnership is one of our key strategic themes. We cannot be responsible for improving the nation’s occupational health and safety on our own.” HSE is working very closely with local authorities, and other organizations such as the Institute of Directors (IoD) to achieve mutual objectives. Through a new authoritative guidance on directors’ responsibilities for health and safety, HSE with the IoD is reaching out to boards and directors to secure their commitment to ensure successful health and safety performance. Mr Podger also urged sensible risk management, saying that the principle of health and safety was to ensure the good health of all, and not to stop people living normal lives. Sensible risk management is about taking practical steps that benefit all. The HSE has seen much progress since the year 2000. The average days lost per worker due to work related ill health and injury has dropped from 1.8 to 1.3. However, he stressed there was no room for complacency – there were still 28 million working days lost each year due to ill health, while occupational ill health costs the UK economy over E`11 billion each year. Setting out a clear challenge for employers Mr Podger concluded, “Health and safety will always be a ‘Forth Bridge’ problem: as soon as restoration is finished, the need is to start again. Nevertheless, we have seen improvements – the challenge to all of us is to maintain our present success whilst working on new and reactive areas.”
Manfred Laser
Selected by Dave Phillips from information given on HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk
DOI: 10.1205/psep.re.0703 0957–5820/07/$30.00 þ 0.00 Trans IChemE, Part B, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, May 2007 # 2007 Institution of Chemical Engineers
Vol 85 (B3) 265