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Defence

BCGA publishes defence sector safety code

New safety guidance, produced by The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) with the Department for Transport for use by the defence sector, has been published.

Above: The guidance is available for free download from the publications’ area of the BCGA website at https://bcga.co.uk/publications/cp50-the-carriage-of-gas-cylinders-on-vehicles
Courtesy BCGA

Code of Practice 50, ‘The Carriage of Gas Cylinders On Vehicles’ has been brought completely up-to-date by the trade body, to include the latest information and guidance for the industry.

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Code of Practice 50 is a complete rewrite of BCGA’s previous document, Guidance Note 27, which was one of the most commonly accessed documents within the association’s extensive library of safety material.

The new Code includes details on legal and safety requirements, threshold quantity calculations, compliance, where required, with the Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), and information on roadside inspections.

Gas fuelled vehicles and fuel labels, personal safety and guidance on the action to take in the event of an incident are also featured.

Jake Lake, Technical Manager of the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA), said: “Gas cylinders are commonly used and many thousands are transported every day without incident, but to ensure that they are safe for transport there is specific legislation in place, as well as supporting guidance.

“Code of Practice 50 references the appropriate legislation and sets out best practice for their carriage.

“It was reviewed by the Competent Authority in the Department for Transport and reflects best practice for the carriage of gas cylinders.

“The publication was last updated in 2017 and significant resources have been deployed to bring this new version together.

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“It is aligned with the requirements of both the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (as amended) which sets the legal framework for the transport of dangerous goods in Great Britain for work purposes, which implements the Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).

“It’s of relevance to the defence sector and, like all our publications, has been produced in accordance with BCGA’s commitment to mission safety in the compressed gases industry.”

The UK membership body for the compressed gases sector, the BCGA is committed to stringent quality, safety and environmental measures.

Its members operate in a highly regulated industry, with a focus on best practice in technical, safety, health and environmental issues, and they volunteer their own expertise and insight to drive forward best practice in these key areas.

Overseen by the BCGA’s Technical Committee, the subcommittees play a key role in developing the Association’s highly regarded and free to access library of technical documents, including Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes.

These are used as a point of reference and referred to across the industry and in related sectors, both nationally and internationally.

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