HC Deb 19 June 1978 vol 952 c59W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the representations by the fire service to the Health and Safety Executive for buildings to be marked to indicate the risks to firemen from the materials they contain.

Mr. John Grant

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has advised me that the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances has under consideration proposals for regulations to provide for the sign-marking of buildings or places containing materials or substances which would be dangerous to firemen in the event of a fire. In connection with these proposals the Central Fire Brigade Advisory Councils Joint Committee on Fire Brigade Operations has agreed a proposal that selected fire brigades, in co-operation with industry and the Health and Safety Executive, should conduct pilot studies to determine the feasibility of using "Hazchem" codes for the purposes of the regulations. The results of the studies and the recommendations of the JCFBO will be taken into account by the ACDS in any proposals it may make for regulations.