HSE issues safety notice on thermites

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published a safety notice concerning the manufacture, storage and carriage of thermites

This safety notice has arisen after the HSE identified that thermites and thermite-containing articles which meet the criteria for being classified for transport in Great Britain and the ADR area as Class 1 dangerous goods (explosive substances and articles) are currently being transported either as non-dangerous goods or as Class 4.1 dangerous goods (flammable solids).

A failure to ensure proper classification of these goods can lead to the hazards associated with them not being properly communicated to people working throughout the transport chain and emergency services who may be required to attend a transport incident. It also means that any safeguards that are required to be in place to protect people when these goods are manufactured and stored are not fully implemented.

The HSE safety notice explains that dutyholders, those who are involved in the manufacture, transport and/or supply of thermites and thermite-containing articles, must:

• not allow thermites and thermite-containing articles to be consigned or accepted for carriage by road or rail without them having been assigned an appropriate classification by the Competent Authority of a contracting party to ADR;
• ensure the articles are manufactured and stored in accordance with the requirements of the Explosives Regulations SI 2014/1638;
• articles are subjected to the placing on the market requirements of the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations SI 2015/1553.

For more information, see:

• HSE Safety notice - Manufacture, storage and carriage of thermites and thermite containing articles.

Detailed guidance has also been produced by the HSE that provides guidance on the appropriate approach to the classification for transport of thermites and thermite-containing articles:

• Guidance on the manufacture, storage and carriage of thermites and thermite containing articles.