Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (“the principal Regulations”).

These Regulations, together with the principal Regulations, implement as respects Great Britain Council Directive 90/394/EEC (OJ No. L194, 26.7.90, p. 1) on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work (“carcinogens Directive”) except insofar as that Directive relates to asbestos.

The implementation referred to in paragraph 2 above is achieved by inserting a definition of carcinogens into regulation 2(1) of the principal Regulations, by Schedule 1 to these Regulations, and by Schedule 3 to these Regulations inserting a new Schedule in the principal Regulations (Schedule 10); new regulations 7(2A) and 7(6A) of the principal Regulations which apply only to carcinogens are introduced by Regulation 2(1) of, and Schedule 1 to, these Regulations.

Amendments also required by the carcinogens Directive namely, that assessments under regulation 6 of the principal Regulations must be reviewed regularly and that health records must be kept for 40 years are made by Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

Minor amendments to regulation 4 of, and Schedule 2 to, the principal Regulations are made by Schedule 1 to these Regulations to align the wording of the principal Regulations with that used in Council Directive 89/677/EEC (OJ No. L398, 30.12.89, p. 19) on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances.

Regulation 2(2) of these Regulations substitutes a new Schedule for Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations. That Schedule prescribes maximum exposure limits for certain substances hazardous to health; a new exposure limit for bis(chloromethyl) ether is introduced and the exposure limit for benzene is amended.