NEWS EXTRA Retailer response
When we contacted B&Q, a spokesperson commented: “In January 2016 B&Q made the voluntary decision to remove liquid sulphuric acid based products from our product range.” A spokesperson for Homebase/ Bunnings told DIY Week: “As a responsible retailer we follow strict guidelines regarding the sale of chemicals. We continue to be vigilant and remain committed to taking appropriate action with regard to ranges, working closely with the authorities, our suppliers and partners.”
British Independent Retail Association (BIRA) president and owner of the Tool Shop chain, Vin Vara feels very strongly about the urgency with which this issue must be tackled.
“We had already moved products of concern from the shelves so that customers have to ask for them”
“We are making sure our members understand their responsibilities in this matter and what action they need to take in their stores,” said Mr Vara. “To support their efforts we have compiled a crib sheet of do’s and don’ts.”
Home office committee Mr Vara is currently representing independent retailers on a Home Office committee looking into the issue. This follows an announcement made by home secretary Amber Rudd of an action plan to tackle acid attacks as indicative figures from the NPCC suggest that more than 400 attacks involving acid or corrosive substances were carried out in the six months up to April 2017. This figure was based on returns from 39 police forces in England and Wales indicating that bleach, ammonia and acid were the most commonly-used substances. “This involves listing the products
that are causing most concern: their concentration levels and therefore the injury they would cause if they were to come into contact with the skin,” continues Mr Vara. “The challenge here lies in giving retailers all the details they need to make an informed decision without it getting into the wrong hands. “Of course, the Home Office is looking at toughening up the law and making it easier for the police
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to arrest someone for ‘intent’ but it needs to be addressed quickly – and making the laws is one thing, policing them is quite another.” So, the retail organisations and their members are working to minimise sales of potentially dangerous chemicals and some of the multiple DIY stores are removing products from their shelves – but that still leaves the corner shops, pound stores and supermarkets - and of course, the internet. Joyce Hall commented that she was shocked at how easy it is to buy sulphuric acid online and it raises concerns about potentially lethal products getting into the wrong hands.
What can manufacturers do? We put this question to the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI) director general Phil Malpass. “We have been involved with the Home Office committee, considering a range of measures focusing on household products that can be misused such as bleach - but there are numerous products labeled with the corrosive symbol, including cleaning powders and gels and even dishwasher tablets – and it would be a huge task to pull out all of them to check their concentration. “We are certainly encouraging our members to research ways of improving the chemistry of cleaning products but currently, with lower strength substances you have to use more for it to work and even
DON’TS
DO:
DON’T:
25 AUGUST 2017 DIY WEEK 7
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