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LEGISLATION,
THE HYDROGEN CYANIDE (FUMIGATION OF BUILDINGS) REGULATIONS 1951.
These Regulations make detailed provision as to the precautions to
be taken in carrying out the fumigation of buildings, and replace the Hydrogen
Cyanide (Fumigation of Buildings) Regulations, 1938, which are revoked.
The principal additions of substance are that the operator is
required to sign and give to the occupier before beginning a fumigation, a
statement relating to the requirements of the Regulations as to the exclusion
of unauthorised persons and other precautionary measures and, after the fumigation
is completed, a certificate that all the requirements as to ventilation and other
safety measures have been complied with.
In addition detailed provision is made with regard to the composition
of, and containers for, the fumigant, the precautions to be taken in,transferring
the fumigant from one container to another and the protective apparatus and
first-aid equipment to be provided.
These Regulations come into force on the 1st February, 1952.
THE HYDROGEN CYANIDE (FUMIGATION OF SHIPS) REGULATIONS 1951.
These Regulations make detailed provision as to the precautions to
be taken in carrying out the fumigation of ships. Notice of a forthcoming
fumigation must be given to certain persons, including the Medical Officer of
Health, the members of a fumigation staff are required to be adequately trained
and equipped with protective apparatus.
No unauthorised person may enter the area of risk until It has been
established by tests that no danger remains, but provision is made, with the
necessary safeguards, for the entry of members of the crew for starting
ventilating fans where necessary, and for the entry of persons authorised by
the owner or charterer to remove certain articles which may have absorbed the
fumigant. Special provision is made with regard to the fumigation of foodstuffs.
A person undertaking fumigations is required to keep a register
in which reports containing certain particulars of each fumigation must be
entered.
These Regulations come into force on the 1st February, 1952.
In the application of both these Regulations the Officers of the
Port Health Authority are not responsible for the proper application of the
safety precautions; the responsibility lies with the operating company, the
ship owner or agent or other persons.
The Port Medical Officer's duty is restricted to ensuring that the
fumigation is properly carried out and warrants the issue of a deratting
certificate. Nevertheless, the Port Medical Officer has instructed all
sanitary inspectors charged with the supervision of a fumigation that they must
be satisfied that the safety precautions are fully observed and should this
be found not to be the case they should draw the attention of the responsible
persons to the matter and should refuse to attend the operation until the
requirements laid down are properly observed.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH (LEPROSY) REGULATIONS, 1951.
These Regulations require a medical practitioner who is attending,
or called in to visit a person suffering from leprosy, to notify the Chief
Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health of the case by sending him a
certificate in the form set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.
THE PUERPERAL PYREXIA REGULATIONS, 1951.
These Regulations replace regulations which have been in force in
London and the remainder of the country respectively. They continue the effect
of those regulations making puerperal pyrexia a notifiable disease, with
slight modifications, including a revised definition of puerperal pyrexia which
the administration of the replaced regulations has shown to be necessary.
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