April 2023 newsletter

In our April newsletter we bring to your attention one new piece of UK legislation on high-risk buildings, two new RoI SIs on industrial emissions and ballast water and one new EU Regulation on standby energy consumption.   There is a UK commencement (No6) for The Environment Act 2021.  Consultations were raised during the month on EALs, hydrogen production, environmental civil sanctions, national air quality and regulation of offshore hydrogen facilities. HSE has produced revised guidance on violence in the work place. We list six prosecutions of note.

We recently received a query about restrictions on the use of diisocyanates.  These substances are mainly used to make polyurethane products, such as rigid and flexible foams, coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers.  Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1149 of 3 August 2020 amended Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) with respect to diisocyanates.  This amendment states that:

Diisocyanates shall not be used as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s) after 24 August 2023, unless:

(a)the concentration of diisocyanates individually and in combination is less than 0.1 % by weight, or

(b)the employer or self-employed ensures that industrial or professional user(s) have successfully completed training on the safe use of diisocyanates prior to the use of the substance(s) or mixture(s).