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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have issued a safety notice about the manufacture, storage and carriage of thermites and thermite containing articles.
Thermites are a type of pyrotechnic composition that produces intense heat and molten metal. In use, they can reach temperatures of several thousand degrees Celsius, which makes them useful in welding, metal cutting, demolition, mining and special effects applications.
HSE has identified that thermites, and thermite containing articles, that should be described as Class 1 dangerous goods (explosive) are instead being transported as either non-dangerous or as Class 4.1 dangerous goods (flammable solids).
This misclassification can result in additional hazards for people working throughout the transport industry as well as for emergency services who may need to attend an incident. It may also mean that appropriate safeguards are not put in place for workers and other people at affected factory or warehousing sites.
HSE are urging businesses to ensure that thermites and thermite containing articles are properly classified.
