The HSE feels it is important to keep islanders up to date on with important information regarding failures in equipment, procedures, processes, and substances used in the workplace. During the HSE's normal activities, such issues may become evident and information regarding these issues may need to be passed on to the public, certain groups, or other industries on the island. The information distributed must be acted on within a reasonable time.
The HSE will use the most appropriate methods to do this to communicate across the island and to the relevant groups. This may be in the form of information notices or by social media channel such as the HSE Guernsey twitter account linked here that is updated with these bulletins.
This page is used to
- Notify all relevant duty holders on the island of major faults that would result in a serious or fatal injury and where immediate remedial action is required; or
- Facilitate a change in procedures or actions to be undertaken to improve the level of protection or instruction in a potentially dangerous situation.
Access to wider bulletins regarding the United Kingdom can be accessed here.
Issue 2 -25.07.2022 - The restriction of herbicides containing the active ingredient Glyphosate
- The issue
- Glyphosate is the active ingredient in most broad-spectrum herbicides. This means that it is not suitable to kill specific weeds or plants, and instead kills most broadleaf plants in the area it is used. It is also finding its way into water courses on the island and can linger in the water we drink. As a result, the Guernsey approval for Glyphosate will be reclassified as "professional use" only from 1st January 2023.
- Working with Glyphosate
- The general public will not be allowed to purchase products containing Glyphosate. Garden centres and other retailers will not be able to sell it to the general public after the 31st October 2022, with amateur use prohibited after 31st December 2022. This does not affect professional services who will still be allowed to obtain and use professional formulations, provided they hold the NPTC certificate of competence in the safe use of pesticides. In particular, this will enable continued use to suppress noxious and invasive weeds.
- Actions to take
- Professionals need to ensure they have the relevant NPCT certificate of competence to continue using Glyphosate in professional formulations
- Garden centres and other retails will need to stop selling Glyphosate to the public after the 31st October 2022
- The Public will be prohibited from using Glyphosate after the 31st December 2022
- If you are left with products containing Glyphosate after the 31st December 2022 and need to dispose of it. Please do so through the correct channels. Domestic and commercial chemical waste collection and disposal is organised by States Works (Guernsey Waste) - 01481 226263 or hazardouswaste@gov.gg
- More information on Hazardous substances and a list of affected products can be found here
Issue 1- 20.06.2022- Hydraulic cutting of asbestos cement (AC) and pitch fibre water and sewer pipes
- The issue
- Following on from a recent intervention the HSE has found that certain pipes potentially containing asbestos are not being worked on safely. Asbestos cement (AC) and pitch fibre water and sewage pipes can be found throughout Guernsey. It was commonly assumed that pitch fibre pipes did not contain asbestos. As such some contractors are not employing the appropriate control measures. It should be assumed that any such pipe contains asbestos unless tested otherwise and should be treated so accordingly. More information on asbestos and the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) can be found here.
- Working with AC or pitch fibre pipe
- AC and pitch fibre pipe should be cut by hand where possible. However, if this is not practical or safe to do there are three alternative hydraulic tools that when operated to the manufacturer's instructions can keep fibre levels below the control limit. These tools include the ICS PowerGrit Utility chainsaw, Steve Vick International Keel Cutter and the MACAW pipe cracker. Other hydraulic tools may also be used but only if they have been tested in controlled environments to determine that fibre release is less that the Short-term exposure limit (STEL). Before using such tools or commencing work a risk assessment must be carried out and you must have a written method of work.
- Actions
- It is recommended to update any internal company directives and training to reflect this.
- Any pipework should be treated as if containing asbestos (unless tested to prove otherwise) and the relevant control measures should be employed
- Contractors should be advised to assume that any lengths of pitch fibre pipework encountered contain asbestos and treated accordingly
- Further, more comprehensive guidance can be found here.
