News - TSBN

News - TSBN

AUTUMN 2017 roUNd-Up dangerous level of chemicals in baby shoes Leather baby shoes were found to contain 8.6 times the permitted level of the chemical chromium 6 when they were tested during a recent government-funded investigation. round-uP It was the worst result among 25 failures, after 157 samples of leather goods were bought from a range of sources and examined for the presence of chromium 6 and azo dyes. Backed by a grant from the department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, the investigation involving 25 trading standards authorities and the Health and Safety Executive was the biggest of its kind ever conducted in the uK. Its focus was on personal protection equipment (PPE) gloves, fashion gloves, baby shoes and bracelets. In total, 19 items were found to contain harmful levels of chromium 6, while six breached the limit for azo dyes. The majority of leather produced around the world involves tanning animal hide using chromium sulphate. If this process is not managed correctly, the chromium sulphate Most chromium 6 failures occurred in PPE can break down to form chromiumVI gloves, followed by baby shoes. At least (chromium 6). This can cause one item in each category failed the A full report on serious skin damage and result in azo dye test. the investigations the affected person developing findings is expected to a chromium allergy. Legal limits for chromium 6 and be released in the azo dyes are set by Annex XVII coming months Leather is also frequently dyed of regulation (EC) 1907/2006, using azo dyes, which can split to concerning the registration, form aromatic amines. These can Evaluation, Authorisation and be easily absorbed through the skin and restriction of Chemicals. More details mouth, and are known to cause cancer. can be found here. The legal limits are 3 parts per million (ppm) for chromium VI and 30ppm for azo dyes. Credit: Murray dewar iStock.com / xxmmxx taKe 5 Business scams and fraud have been featured regularly in tSBn articles covering a number of areas, including: online scams; ensuring your cyber security systems are effective and up to date; and subscription traps. Fraudsters take their time to research businesses and their victims. So take Five minutes to make sure youre in the know about how to avoid fraud and scams. For further advice, view previous editions of TsBn. eh updates: Sentencing, safety and ssshhhhh Getting food safety and hygiene wrong can cost you a lot more money since the advent of new guidelines. The Health and Safety offences, Corporate Manslaughter and Food Safety and Hygiene offences Sentencing guidelines were published in April 2016. There are now no set upper limits, and fines are based on culpability, harm and the turnover of the business. (See Sentencing review article.) round-uP The aim is to reduce inconsistencies in sentencing across the UK; penalties were seen as not always reflecting the seriousness of the offences before the courts especially for businesses. In July, Stafford Crown Court fined JTF Warehouse 1m for a legionella outbreak that resulted in 21 people contracting legionellosis from a poorly maintained hot tub. Two people subsequently died. Environmental health prosecutions of food businesses are also resulting in higher fines. In Worcestershire, the sole proprietor of a takeaway was fined 9,000 for failing to deal with persistent offences. click here for more on sentencing guidelines. Credit: Helen Cameron iStock.com / MarianVejcik click numbers for more eh updates 1 2 3 eh update: Sentencing, safety and ssshhhhh The Food Standards Agency is rolling out its regulating our Future programme, with the aim of modernising the regulation of food businesses by 2019. It proposes a move away from one size fits all and inspections-linked target dates. Food-safety controls including inspections, complaints and fraud investigations will remain with local authorities, but there may be an option for businesses to employ Certified regulatory Auditors to carry out inspections. The results of these would be used by councils to determine a risk rating. A review of the risk-rating system and the registration of food businesses will also be undertaken. Go to the FSa website for more information. The FSA is also looking to extend its role in monitoring primary Authority (pA) partnerships with food businesses. For more on the changes being introduced for pA, see primary authority set to be expanded on the News page, or visit the government website. Credit: Helen Cameron iStock.com / Lisovskaya click numbers for more eh updates 1 2 3 eh update: Sentencing, safety and ssshhhhh An inevitable outcome of more housing being built closer to commercial and industrial areas is an increase in complaints about noise and odour nuisance from fans and extraction units. It is no defence to say you were there first. Environmental health officers will look to see that the best practicable means have been used to deal with the problem otherwise a notice for statutory nuisance may be served. This will never be done without a full investigation but if someones right to quiet enjoyment of their home is affected on a regular basis, you will need to take action. If you have specific queries, contact your local environmental health team. Credit: Helen Cameron iStock.com / youngvet click numbers for more eh updates 1 2 3 For further information, please contact your local trading Standards Service