Environmental News

Requirements for the Registration and Regulation of Sewage Sludge Facilities in Ireland

Change to legislation: The Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility) Regulations 2010
Who does this affect: Republic of Ireland - Sewage Sludge Facilities
When does this take affect: 01 March 2010

Operators of sewage sludge facilities in Ireland, which aren’t currently regulated under other environmental legislation, are now required to register with the local authority in whose functional area the facility is situated.

The Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility) Regulations 2010 have been implemented to ensure that the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive are being met and prescribe penalties for sewage sludge facilities which do not meet the Regulations.

The full text of the Regulations can be found here.

Source: http://www.attorneygeneral.ie/

Environmental News

Renewable Energy Generation Relief in Scotland

Change to legislation: The Non-Domestic Rates (Renewable Energy Generation Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2010
Who does this affect: Scotland - Renewable energy generators
When does this take affect: 01 April 2010

Non-domestic properties in Scotland which are solely concerned with the production of renewable energy (heat and/or power) will be able to apply for a reduction in rateable value by up to 100%.  Applications must be made to the local authority and signed by the ratepayer.

It is the intent of the relief to encourage the development of the renewables energy sector in Scotland.

The full text of the Regulations can be found here.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/

Environmental News

Rules Relaxed for Domestic Microgeneration in Scotland

Change to legislation: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2010
Who does this affect: Scotland - Installers of microgeneration equipment
When does this take affect: 08 March 2010

The installation of free standing microgeneration wind turbines and air source heat pumps on domestic properties no longer requires planning permission in Scotland, subject to certain conditions.

The changes have been introduced by The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2010 which designates the installation of free standing wind turbines and air source heat pumps on domestic properties as being activities to which permitted development rights can apply. Applications for planning permission are not required where permitted development rights apply.

The aim of the Order is to enable more microgeneration equipment to be installed at or on domestic buildings in Scotland.

The full text of the Order can be found here.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/

Environmental News

Defra consultation on implementing European pesticides legislation

Who does this affect: UK - Businesses involved in the manufacture, supply and use of pesticides

The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is undertaking a consultation on behalf of Defra, seeking views on how to implement new European Legislation on pesticide use.

Directive 2009/128/EC (the Sustainable Use Directive or SUD) came into force on 25 November 2009 is intended to create a framework for the sustainable use of pesticides and will need to be transposed into UK law within 2 years of this date.

It is hoped that the Directive will further reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment.

The consultation will end on 04 May 2010.

Further information can be found here.

Source: http://www.defra.gov.uk/

Health & Safety News

New Notification Requirements to Ensure Safety of Tower Crane Use

Change to legislation: The Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010
Who does this affect: UK Wide - Organisations using or leasing conventional tower cranes on construction sites
When does this take affect: 06 April 2010

Further to last months issue of InTouch where we reported on the Health and Safety Executives’ newly issued guidance on Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations, the Regulations to which they relate have been approved by Parliament and will be coming into force in April.

The Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010 require employers using or providing conventional tower cranes on construction sites to notify the Health and Safety Executive with information relating crane used. The information to be provided includes:

• Details of the crane owner or lessor;
• Address of the construction site where the crane was used;
• Means to identify the crane used; and
• Details of any thorough examination of the crane carried out under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

The notification will enable the HSE to provide reassurance on the management of health and safety risks from cranes.

The full text of the Regulations can be found here.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/

Health & Safety News

New Health and Safety Regulations for Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels

Change to legislation: The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2010; The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Work at Height) Regulations 2010
Who does this affect: All United Kingdom ships regardless of location and non-UK ships when in UK waters
When does this take affect: 06 April 2010

New Regulations are to come in to force in order to remove the gap in regulatory coverage for working at height and using chemicals between land-based workers and those working on ships.

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Work at Height) Regulations 2010 requires employers on ships to ensure that only someone deemed as being competent to do so is allowed carry out activities in relation to working at height, unless they are undergoing training and being supervised by a competent person. The Regulations also prescribe requirements for how work at height is to be organised, the selection of equipment to be used and the working at height in relation to weather conditions.

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2010 places a duty to employers to assess any risk to the health and safety of workers arising from the presence of chemical agents on ships and to remove or reduce these risks. They also require employers to establish procedures to control any chemical related accident, incident or emergency which may occur.

The full text of the Work at Height Regulations can be found here.

The full text of the Chemical Agents Regulations can be found here.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/

Health & Safety News

Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations updated in Northern Ireland

Change to legislation: The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Who does this affect: Northern Ireland - Medical practices using ionising radiation
When does this take affect: 15 March 2010

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 will soon come into force, with the purpose of clarification and updating the rules surrounding ionising radiation in relation to medical exposure.

The Regulations make several minor changes to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 including the enforcement powers for Northern Ireland should be transferred to the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

The full text of the Regulations can be found here.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/

Health & Safety News

Courts Given Power to Order Corporate Manslaughter / Homicide to be Publicised

Change to legislation: The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2010
Who does this affect: England, Wales and Northern Ireland - Organisations convicted of corporate manslaughter. Scotland - Organisations convicted of corporate homicide.
When does this take affect: 15 February 2010

Courts now have the power to order organisations convicted of corporate manslaughter / homicide to publicise the fact that they have been convicted, including specified details of the offence, details of any fine imposed and the terms of any remedial order made. Organisations who fail to do so may be given an unlimited fine.

These powers are prescribed by Section 10 of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 which has been brought into force by The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2010.

The new powers apply only to acts of corporate manslaughter / homicide committed on or after the date on which Order brought Section 10 of the Act into force.

The full text of the Order can be found here.

The full text of the 2007 Act can be found here.

Source: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/