Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
About HSE
Terms of reference: To advise the Commission on matters relating to the prevention, control and management of hazards and risks to the health and safety of persons arising from the supply or use of toxic substances at work, with due regard to any related risks to consumers, the public and the environment.
In order to provide the appropriate support to deliver its work plan ACTS has a number of subcommittees. These include:
Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging
(SCHIP).
A consultative forum for the consideration of issues relating to the hazard
classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals in the context of the
Dangerous Substances Directive and the Dangerous Preparations Directive.
For further information on SCHIP, please see 'Background
and purpose of the Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging
(SCHIP)'
The Working Group on Action to Control Chemicals (WATCH)
WATCH advises the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS) and HSC/E on
scientific and technical issues relating to the assessment and control of health
risks from chemicals. It is a government scientific advisory committee and as
such is subject to the Office of Science and Technology's Code of Practice for
Scientific Advisory Committees.
European Risk Management Advisory Group (ERMAG)
This is a consultative forum which considers risk reduction strategies for
chemicals reviewed through the European Existing Substances Regulation.
Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
Provides a forum for discussion between HSE, UK members of the European
Commission’s Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits
(SCOEL) and other interested bodies, on the development of Indicative Occupational
Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs) and of Binding Limit Values, and other related
matters, with special reference to the quality of scientific reviews and
socio-economic factors. In particular, it co-ordinates comments made to
the European Commission on these matters.
Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) Framework Review Working Group
Was set up with the remit to develop a revised OEL Framework, within the
context of the COSHH control hierarchy, to provide a robust tool for the
management of chemicals in the workplace thereby contributing to the effective
protection of workers' health.
ACTS Secretariat can be contacted at: Health & Safety Executive, Floor 9SW, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS or email: androulla.michael@hse.gsi.gov.uk
