asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the storage of hazardous chemicals which is governed by regulations made under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972; whether these regulations and the enforcement of same are adequate in view of the leak of potassium cyanide which occurred on 6 July 1988 in Black-hall Place, Dublin 7; and whether the storage of such chemicals in a built-up area might prove dangerous to the wellbeing of the residents of this area.
Written Answers. - Storage of Hazardous Chemicals.
90.
Section 25 of the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 requires that a person engaged in the storage, labelling, packing or conveyance of any dangerous substance shall take all practicable steps to prevent risk of injury to person or property. I am satisfied that the Act provides me with adequate powers to control the storage of dangerous substances and that its provisions are widely and effectively used. The safe storage of dangerous substances is primarily the responsibility of firms which trade in or use such substances. Before deciding whether it would be safe to store a particular substance in a built-up area, it would be necessary to assess a wide range of factors. Ultimately each case would have to be decided on its merits.
The incident on 6 July, 1988 resulted in the spillage of a small quantity of a chemical, sodium cyanide, which is not normally stored at this location. My Department's Industrial Inspectorate investigated fully the circumstances of this accidental spillage. From their reports I am satisfied that the management of the company acted responsibly following the incident and that there was no serious risk to the health of either the workers or the general public in the locality. The company have taken remedial action to prevent any recurrence.