§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that pending the full implementation of comprehensive legislation dealing with all aspects of safety and health at work the existing regulations are adequate to safeguard workers against the ill effects of isocyanates used in industry.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithYes. Although there are no specific regulations controlling the use of isocyanates in premises subject to the Factories Act 1961, Section 4 and Section 63 (1) of the Factories Act require workrooms to be ventilated and measures to be taken to protect employed persons against inhalation of injurious dust or fume; these sections afford adequate safeguards against the ill effects of isocyanates in industry.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment what research is being currently undertaken into the ill effect upon industrial workers of fumes arising from the use of isocyanates in industry or upon firemen and others called to deal with fires where such fumes are prevalent.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo formal research on these matters is currently being undertaken by the Employment Medical Advisory Service, although the service has been active on anad hoc basis in examining workers. The pneumoconiosis unit of the Medical Research Council is investigating the latest effects resulting from exposure to fumes arising in the course of fire-fighting. A report is being prepared jointly with the toxicology unit of the MRC.
The pneumoconiosis unit has also been collaborating with industry and in particular with the Rubber Manufacturers' Research Association in a study of functional changes in people exposed to very low concentrations of toluene di-isocyanate and of the long-term effects of past exposures to relatively high concentrations
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories using isocyanates were visited by the Factory Inspectorate in 1970, 1971, 1972 and to date in 1973; and what 504W improvements and modifications in handling such substances were made as a result.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI regret that full information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. During the last four years most factories using isocyanates have been visited by the General Inspectorate and a considerable number by the inspectorate's specialist industrial hygiene unit. Where conditions are not satisfactory the improvements required include enclosure of the process where this is feasible; local exhaust ventilation; respiratory protective equipment, protective clothing and a suitable procedure for accidental spillages. In the three years 1970–1972, for which records are immediately available, the specialist inspectors took and analysed 694 samples in the course of visits to advise on control of isocyanates.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have been taken to warn management and workers in industry and in training establishments and the like of the hazards involved in handling isocyanate substance.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThe Factory Inspectorate has known of the hazards presented by isocyanates for a number of years, and has been active in identifying users and giving advice on the necessary precautions to both managements and workers. Recently the Factory Inspectorate published Technical Data Note No. 41, "Isocyanates", which is based on the experience of the inspectorate and gives up-to-date advice. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.
Where inspectors are called on to visit establishments other than industrial premises where isocyanates may be used they give advice based on their industrial experience.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek powers to make it compulsory for firms using isocyanate in manufacture to notify local fire departments of the presence of such substances on their premises.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo. The risk from isocyanates is only one of many risks from toxic fumes that firemen face when 505W fighting fires in industrial premises. Much information on toxic materials is made available by factory occupiers to fire prevention officers when statutory and good will visits are paid to firms. There is also regular contact between the fire authorities and local factory inspectors when matters of mutual concern are discussed.