Have your say on acetylene regulations

Post By: Shona Innes

Businesses which use acetylene in their line of work may be interested in taking part in a Health and Safety Executive consultation on proposed new regulations on the use of the hydrocarbon.

Firms who utilize the hydrocarbon acetylene may already have invested in gas detection equipment to ensure it does not pose a danger to staff, customers or the general public.

However, those companies who wish to have a say in how the chemical is regulated have been asked to submit their point of view to a new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation.

Known as the Acetylene Safety Regulations 2014 (ASR), the new rules are designed to ensure workers and the public remain safe during the production, storage and use of the substance.

Acetylene is a colourless gas usually manufactured by the combustion of methane. It is unstable in its pure form and is therefore generally handled as a solution.

Options for detecting Acetylene include short term detection tubes.  An example of this may be Drager Petroleum Hydrocarbon tubes (10/a or 100/a) which can be found on the Frontline Safety website, amongst a wide range of detection tubes.

Tubes have a shelf life of 2 years and can be used with the Drager Accuro gas detection pump.  For more information on these products please contact [email protected].

HSE head of HID major hazard policy Peter Brown hopes that by consolidating the disparate rules and advice currently governing the use of the chemical, the new regulations will foster a safer working environment wherever they are used.

"The draft regulations aim to draw together all the pieces of legislation that are specific to the production, storage and use of acetylene," he said.

"One single set of regulations should make it clearer and easier for businesses to identify what they need to do to protect themselves and their workers from the dangers of acetylene."

An eight-week public consultation will last until September 23th and those interested in the changes have been urged to come forward to have their thoughts heard.

It is thought the consultation might appeal to those involved in welding and laboratory work, among other industry sectors.

Posted by Shona Innes