Hazchem paints plans
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• Thousands of hauliers who transport low-level hazardous goods might be forced to adopt tougher safety standards if the Government accepts proposed amendments to the Carriage of Dangerous Substances by Road Regulations.
The Health and Safety Commission wants the Packaged Goods Regulations to be extended to Group Three substances such as paints and adhesives. This would force hauliers to use specially trained drivers, Hazchem plates and Transport Emergency Cards.
The HSC is also exploring the possibility of raising the Group Three threshold to goods carried in receptacles of 200 litres or more — or in receptacles of five litres or more.
"This latter option would bring a substantial number of operators under the regulations," says the HSC. "Assuming an extra 50,000 such operators with 250,000 vehicles, the additional costs would be over £21m in the first year and around 23.5m a year thereafter," it adds.
The HSC proposals also include more exemptions for road tanker regulations; two codes of practice for design and construction of petroleum spirit and carbon disulphide tankers; and compulsory hazard-warning panels for the ends of tanker containers.