News

Northern Ireland's construction and demolition industry is being asked to help revise pollution prevention guidance.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is currently working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Environment Agency to update the Working at Construction and Demolition Sites Pollution Prevention Guidlines (PPG 6), which were written in 2003.

However, Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said it is essential that the construction and demolition industry make a contribution during the drafting of the guidance. Sammy Wilson says the guidelines are intended to assist those in the construction and demolition industry with responsibility for managing the environmental impact of their activities. The Minister said, "Most pollution incidents are avoidable, but careful planning can reduce the risk of pollution. Most of the measures needed to prevent pollution cost very little, especially if they are included at the planning stage. In contrast, the costs of cleaning up a pollution incident can be very high."

Pollution prevention and waste minimisation measures may offer substantial economic benefits such as reducing the need for expensive raw materials, fewer site accidents and a reduced risk of prosecution for environmental offences. The existing guidance requires significant revision in terms of site waste management plans, duty of care for waste, pollution prevention, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Good Practice.

Green activists have strongly criticised heads of state and government for failing to put concrete sums on the table to help developing countries combat climate change at their meeting this month. As anticipated, European leaders postponed till June a decision on the EU's position for global climate talks, which are scheduled to conclude in Copenhagen in December.

Meeting in Brussels for this month's spring summit, heads of state and government even appeared to dilute the conclusions earlier drawn up by environment and finance ministers by omitting references to potential financing mechanisms. The summit conclusions merely state that further discussions were needed on such international mechanisms, and that leaders will determine "well in advance of the Copenhagen conference" the EU's stance on financial approaches, its specific contribution and "principles of burden sharing among Member States."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU should make no commitment while other nations, notably the US and China, are not doing the same. Instead European leaders concentrated on measures to tackle the economic crisis, which provoked angry comments from green NGOs. Friends of the Earth in particular, said while the 27 member states spent most of their time discussing multi-billion euro responses to the financial crisis, it failed to commit a single cent to international efforts to deal with global warming.

The next EU summit is scheduled for 18-19 June, with the UN Climate Conference set to conclude in Copenhagen on 7-18 December.

The headquarters of the Whitehall department responsible for tackling climate change has been given a poor assessment by a Government energy efficiency inspector, it emerged this month. The Department for Energy and Climate Change's office in Westminster was given the worst possible rating following a visit by an official assessor. The energy assessor's report also revealed that no renewable fuels were used to provide heat or electricity in the building.

All large buildings occupied or part occupied either by public authorities and by institutions providing public services are required to have a Display Energy Certificate (DEC). The assessor gives the building a score - with lower ratings indicating more efficient use of energy - and classes the property in a band from A to G. The headquarters were given a G rating and a score of 165, with the DEC indicating 100 would be typical for similar buildings.

The assessor Brendan Murray made a total of 13 recommendations for improving energy efficiency at the building, including fitting zone controls for heating and automatic monitoring systems for electrical appliances.

A construction company has been fined £65,000 over the death of a worker. David Callaghan was fatally injured when he was hit by a passing vehicle while carrying out road works in Coleraine in May 2007. McNicholas Construction Services Limited was found guilty of breaching health and safety legislation at Ballymena Crown Court.

The court heard that there were no warning signs or other precautions to safeguard Mr Callaghan while he worked. The case was brought by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI).

Kevin Toner, deputy chief executive with the HSE NI, said road works needed to be carried out in a well planned and safe manner. "This includes the need to provide adequate signage, warnings and where required, road closures in order to provide safety to all persons at work on or near roads."

This type of incident has been on the decrease, with the deaths of workers on roads in the UK being reduced significantly during the last three years as a result of contractor action and work by the regulators to enforce speed limits through road works.

For more information see:

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1947;
• Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1978/1039.

Belfast City Council has been fined £40,000 after a man died at its Dargan Road landfill site, in the north of the city. Belfast Crown Court heard that Ashley Cunningham suffocated in September 2006, when he was swept into the waste tip. The council admitted failing to ensure his safety.

In a statement, the council said it was "deeply upset and genuinely contrite that Mr Cunningham lost his life." Since the accident, it has conducted a fundamental review and invested significantly in health and safety procedures.

They commented, "We fully recognise and accept that all of the measures since taken, and our previously good record at the landfill site, is of little comfort to the Cunningham family and friends who have lost someone very dear. We don't underestimate the impact that this has had on the family and offer our genuine and heartfelt sympathies and condolences to them. We hope that the conclusion of this case will allow them the space, time and privacy to come to terms with their loss."

Imposing the fine, Mr Justice Hart said that while it "was trite to say that any penalty which the court imposes cannot restore Ashley to his family", such financial penalties were a reminder to all employers to carry out their responsibilities to others in a "robust and rigorous way."

For more information, see:

• Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1978/1039.

Public safety minister Michael McGimpsey this month launched a three month consultation on proposals to reform fire safety regulations in Northern Ireland. The regulations will give effect to various EU health and safety directives, and will bring Northern Ireland in line with England, Scotland and Wales.

The minister said, "The new regulations will replace the current requirement to have fire certificates for non-domestic premises with risk assessments. Employers, owners, managers and landlords will in future be responsible for ensuring that fire risk assessments are carried out and measures to protect lives are put in place." The regulations will be accompanied by guidance documents, aimed at providing information and advice for those with duties under the proposed legislation.

Encouraging a broad response on the public consultation, Mr McGimpsey added, "These regulations and guidance notes will support the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service in promoting fire prevention and fire safety awareness in businesses, schools and homes across Northern Ireland. Given the risk that fire poses, I shall welcome all responses in relation to these proposals."

The consultation will end on 8 May 2009.