HON. SECRETARY'S NOTES

cars to be driven onto a transporter. They had been previously warned about the use of polyethylene containers for this purpose. unattended Tank Wagon At West MaIling Magistrates Court on 29th October 1975, Amoco (U.K.) Ltd., and their driver, Mr. C.W. Pearce, pleaded not guilty to charges under Regulation 7(1) of the Petroleum-Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Regulations. The charges related to a tank wagon which was left unattended on a main road, the driver being in a public house. The officer concerned gave evidence that the vehicle was some 85 yards from the public house and the vehicle was not visable from inside.

The Information was laid against the firm in addition to that against the driver in view of their apparent lack of specific instructions, although a copy of the Conveyance Regulations i957 was pinned to the notice board in their drivers' rest room.

Both defendants were found guilty and were each fined £50. Amoco (U.K.) Ltd., were ordered to pay £25 costs.

Keeping without notification

At Sheerness Magistrates Court on 29th October 1975, Blaw Knox Ltd., of River House, Shorts Way, Rochester, Kent pleaded guilty to failing to notify the local authority that petroleum spirit was being kept within a building at their premises at Blue Town, Sheerness. (Regulation 8(1) of 1929 Regulations) .

New Address

Would members please note that from 1st September 1976, the Hon. Secretary's address will be:

John Frid Esq. , Honorary Secretary, Assoc. for Petroleum and Explosives Administration, County Secretary's Department, Cambridgeshire County Council, Shire Hall, CAMBRIDGE. Telephone Cambridge (0223) 58811

The Company was fined £100 on this offence with £20 costs and also £100 for each of two offences brought by the Factories Inspector. These were under Section 40 of the Factories Act 1961 and Regulation 5 of the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquified Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972.

The circumstances arose out of a fire which occurred at the premises and was dealt with by the fire brigade.

Investigations showed that up to 10 gallons of petrol were stored at a time, being used for the purpose of testing road sweeping vehicles which are manufactured at the premises.

The use to which the petrol was put determined that the Information be laid under the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles etc.) Regulations 1929 instead of Section 1 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928.

SUFFOLK

On 24th June, 1976 at Bury St. Edmunds Magistrates Court, Ancliff (BLT) Ltd., of Moun ton Chambers, Cheps tow, pIe aded gui 1 ty to two charges of failing to display inflammable warning and product name signs.

The charges related to an incident on 8th March, 1976 in Bury St. Edmunds when one of the defendant Company's vehicles was found to be leaking whilst parked outside the drivers home. The vehicle was carrying Butyraldehyde.

The prosecution by Suffolk County Consumer Protection Department resulted in the Company being fined £50 on each charge wi th £20 costs.

Income Tax Relief on Association Subscriptions

With effect from the year commencing 6th April 1975 any member of the Association who is assessable to Income Tax under Schedule E in respect of the emoluments of an office or employment is entitled to a deduction from those emoluments of the whole of the annual subscription which is due and payable by him to the body in the Income Tax year, provided that:

a. the subscription is defrayed out of the emoluments of the office or employmen t, and

b. the activities of the Association so far as they are directed to qualifying objects are relevant to the office or employment; that is to say, the performance of the duties of the office or employment, or the exercise of the profession concerned, is directly affected by the pursuance of the qualifying objects.

Any member of the Association who is entitled to the relief should apply to his Tax Office as soon as possible giving details of his subscription and making a claim for the relief due to him.

REORGANISATION OF THE EXPLOSIVES INSPECTORATE

As part of the cOEtinuing process of the integration of certain constituent ates into the structure of the Health and Safety Executive it has been decided to reorganise the Explosives Inspectorate. This reorganisation will have the effect of separating policy functions from the general inspectorial function. The policy aspects will be dealt with by a secretariat branch within the Hazardous Substances Group known as HS Branch A under the control of Mr. E.G. Whitbread. The inspectorial tasks will be integrated within the structure of the Factory Inspectorate and will be headed by Mr. F.W. Ireland who becomes HM Chief Inspector of Explosives. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES BRANCH A

Mr. E.G. Whitbread at the head of this branch will be responsible for the development of policy on explosives, oxydising substances, the conveyance of dangerous substances by all modes of transport, the packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and the security of such substances. The liaison with appropriate government departments, industry," and any relevant international bodies concerning these subjects will be carried out in this branch. Mr. F.W. Ireland's major responsibilities will be for the safety of workers in the explosives industry and of the public in relation to that industry throughout the UK; for the enforcement of legislation in this field; and for the provision of information and technical advice from the Inspectorate to the relevant policy branch. He will be responsible for the licensing of all commercial explosives factories, magazines and ANFO sites, for conducting appeals under the

Explosives Act 1875, and for accident inquiries. The Explosives Inspectorate will continue to be responsible for the approval of specific novel explosives and their packaging including the issue of Special Packing Authorities.

They will also continue to approve the for compressed gas cylinders, including acetylene porous masses; the manufacturers of such cylinders and the inspecting authorities. They will approve facilities for the compression of acetylene to pressures in excess of 9 p.s.i. They will also provide technical advice on oxydising or reactive substances and on the conveyance of dangerous goods. Members may also find the following list of names and telephone numbers useful. They are listed under their particular responsibility within the Petroleum Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. Legal Interpretation H.F. Denyer

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Branch H.S.G.'B'

Transport Dr. G.J. Jeacocke

Flammable Liquids other than Petroleum J.R. Russell

Technical Information Mr. D.V. Of ford