Regulations

In 2003 the UK Government transposed European Directive (2001/90/EC) into UK legislation Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 1511 covering the control of the marketing and use of creosote.

As an organisation we have a duty of care and a responsibility to inform you, the client, of the restriction this directive imposes on the use of second-hand/reclaimed creosoted railway sleepers. This has been implemented so as to ensure a high level of protection of the health and safety of all recipients of creosote and creosoted products including railway sleepers.

Sleepers treated with creosote may NOT be used for the following:-

• inside buildings, whatever their purpose
• in toys
• in playgrounds
• in parks, gardens, and outdoor recreational leisure facilities where there is a risk of frequent skin contact*
• in the manufacture of garden furniture such as picnic tables,
• for the manufacture and use and any re-treatment of: containers intended for growing purposes, packaging that may come into contact with raw materials, intermediate or finished products destined for human and/or animal consumption.
• other materials which may contaminate the products mentioned above

*As advised by the DTI frequent skin contact is avoided when handling sleepers by wearing protective gloves.

Further clarification of this directive can be found by accessing the European Union Library website
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) and searching for 2001/90/EC