Explosives Regulations 2014 - Guidance structure
Explosives: update
The UK has left the EU, and some rules and procedures have changed from 1 January 2021[55].
In line with HSE's wider guidance structure, the guidance produced to support the Explosives Regulations 2014 (ER2014)[56] offers 3 levels of information.
Level 3: Overarching guidance
Provides the fundamental objectives for explosives operations that everyone should achieve and guidance on how to achieve them. Due to the diverse nature of the sector the detailed controls required for compliance will vary from subsector to subsector and dutyholder to dutyholder. This means that not everyone in the industry will need to read the overarching documents or refer to them on a day to day basis.
The safety guidance (L150)[57] is particularly relevant to dutyholders such as employers, private individuals and other people manufacturing explosives, storing larger quantities of explosives or storing explosives that present higher hazards or greater risks of initiation.
It provides overarching technical guidance that will help dutyholders to comply with the safety provisions in the Regulations. It also identifies detailed topic-based and specialist guidance and provides background information that supports subsector guidance published elsewhere.
L150 also contains material relevant to enforcing authorities such as local authority trading standards officers, the police, fire and rescue services and other emergency services. It may also be of interest to other government or regulatory agencies and waste disposal operators.
- acquiring, keeping and transferring relevant explosives;
- manufacturing, storing transferring and placing on the market civil explosives;
- manufacturing, possessing or transferring plastic explosives.
It provides background information and detailed specialist and technical guidance that may help dutyholders to comply with the security provisions in the Regulations.
L151 also contains material relevant to enforcing authorities such as local authority trading standards officers, the police and fire and rescue services. This publication may also be of interest to other government or regulatory agencies.
Level 2 – Subsector guidance
Provides detailed information that has been tailored for that subsector rather than being generally applicable across the whole explosives sector.
Dutyholders who need more information or background on the standards identified in subsector guidance should refer to the overarching guidance.
Level 1 – Entry level guidance eg leaflets
Provides basic information intended as a starting point for those whose operations are easily defined with easily defined controls.
The tables below give examples of different subsectors and the level of guidance that they would be expected to refer to on a day-to-day basis.
| Subsector | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial manufacture of explosives | x | ||
| Commercial storage of larger quantities or higher hazard explosives | x | ||
| Storage of explosives at mines, quarries and in support of other similar activities such as demolition. | x | ||
| Professional firework display operators | x | ||
| Manufacture and storage of ANBI | x | ||
| Wholesale storage of hazard type 3 and hazard type 4 fireworks | x | ||
| Retail of hazard type 3 and hazard type 4 fireworks | x | ||
| Retail of pyrotechnic articles | x | ||
| Storage of pyrotechnic articles in support of other commercial activities | x | ||
| Retail of shooting supplies including Ammunition | x | ||
| Recreational users of shooting supplies and blackpowder eg shooters and re-enactors, | x | ||
| Using explosives in an educational environment | x | ||
| Non-commercial manufacture by hobbyists | x |
| Sector | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial manufacture of explosives | x | ||
| Commercial storage of relevant and/or civil explosives | x | ||
| Storage of explosives at mines, quarries and in support of other similar activities such as demolition. | x | ||
| Professional firework display operators | x | ||
| Manufacture and storage of ANBI | x | ||
| Wholesale storage of hazard type 3 and hazard type 4 fireworks | x | ||
| Retail of hazard type 3 and hazard type 4 fireworks | x | ||
| Retail of pyrotechnic articles | x | ||
| Storage of pyrotechnic articles in support of other commercial activities | x | ||
| Retail of shooting supplies including Ammunition | x | ||
| Recreational users of shooting supplies and blackpowder eg shooters and re-enactors, | x | ||
| Using explosives in an educational environment | x | ||
| Non-commercial manufacture by hobbyists | x |
Those using level 1 guidance day-to-day would need to periodically use level 2 guidance for further information specific to their subsector. They may occasionally need to refer to level 3 guidance.
Those using level 2 guidance day-to-day, would only be expected to refer to level 3 guidance if they were undertaking activities beyond the scope of the subsector guidance, or needed to develop their understanding of the controls they should implement.
Those using level 3 guidance day-to-day, would be expected to refer to level 2 guidance where it is relevant to their undertaking.
Further information on the sub-sector guidance[58] is available.