Member Article

Chemical firms asked for views on safety regulation

The Government is inviting firms in the chemicals sector to contribute their experiences of working with national regulators and local authorities on safety regulations.

Companies are being asked for their views on the enforcement of the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations, through the Focus on Enforcement website.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “Focus on Enforcement will give businesses in the chemicals sector the chance to make a real difference to the way compliance and protection is achieved on COMAH sites, shaping how companies can best work with regulators in a successful and cost-effective way.

“I want companies in this area of business, and those that advise and assist them, to visit the website, to tell us their views and suggest how we might reduce enforcement burdens and share best practice.

“This is your chance to make a real difference to the way these regulations are enforced.”

Welcoming the review, Peter Newport, CEO of the Chemical Business Association, added: “Moving towards smarter enforcement follows naturally from policies designed to develop smarter regulation.

“We are keen to see the review explore how the burden and costs of regulatory compliance can be reduced.

“We are also keen to see progress towards formal earned recognition for COMAH sites which supplement regulatory requirements through established industry standards – an approach which could deliver significant operational savings both for business and for the regulatory authorities concerned.”

For the next six weeks, during the evidence gathering phase of the review, companies can submit their thoughts, including posts mades on an anonymous basis.

Businesses in other sectors can also suggest how enforcement in their area could be improved, and suggestions for areas needing examination will guide Ministers in establishing a series of reviews.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .