DSEAR
DSEAR stands for the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. It is the UK implementation of the EU Directive ATEX 137 which is essentially ‘the protection of workers in potentially explosive atmospheres’.
Dangerous substances can put peoples’ safety at risk from fire and explosion. DSEAR puts duties on employers and the self-employed to protect people from risks to their safety from fires, explosions and similar events in the workplace, this includes members of the public who may be put at risk by work activity.
What are dangerous substances?
Dangerous substances are any substances used or present at work that could, if not properly controlled, cause harm to people as a result of a fire or explosion. They can be found in nearly all workplaces and include such things as solvents, paints, varnishes, flammable gases, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), dusts from machining and sanding operations and dusts from foodstuffs.
What does DSEAR require?
Employers must:
- find out what dangerous substances are in their workplace and what the fire and explosion risks are;
- put control measures in place to either remove those risks or, where this is not possible, control them;
- put controls in place to reduce the effects of any incidents involving dangerous substances;
- prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving dangerous substances;
- make sure employees are properly informed about and trained to control or deal with the risks from the dangerous substances;
- identify and classify areas of the workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur and avoid ignition sources (from unprotected equipment, for example) in those areas.
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The primary legislation applying to the control of substances that can cause fires and explosions in the workplace is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) (SI 2002 No.2776). The text of the Regulations can be found at the HMSO website as follows: Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)
DSEAR put into effect requirements from two European Directives: the Chemical Agents Directive (98/24/EC) and the Explosive Atmospheres Directive (99/92/EC). It also replaced a number of older regulations dealing with flammable substances safety.
Second edition of new DSEAR ACOPS
This new DSEAR Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance provide advice on how to comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) which are a statutory requirement in the UK.
These Regulations require the elimination or reduction of risk of fire and explosion from substances connected with work activities. The ACOP is primarily for ‘’an informed and experienced audience’’ such as ExVeritas.
This second edition of new DSEAR Approved Code of Practice (L138) incorporates the four previous DSEAR ACOPs on design, storage, control and safe maintenance. It applies to workplaces that manufacture, store, process or use dangerous substances as defined in this publication.
The consolidated new DSEAR ACOP text and guidance have been simplified, streamlined, and restructured to help the reader. No significant new duties are placed on businesses that are in compliance with the replaced ACOPs, although the content has been updated in light of changes to European and domestic legislation, such as substance classification and labelling and general fire safety.
The new DSEAR ACOP can be download here.
We offer a full range if services covering every aspect of DSEAR and are specialists in zone and risk reduction to save clients time and cost whilst actually making the plant safer! We also offer a DSEAR Gap Analysis which is a very cost effective review and audit program to ensure you are legally compliant with the new DSEAR ACOPS
The old HSE ACOPS (listed below) have been replaced with a new HSE DSEAR ACOPS
- Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 Approved Code of Practice and guidance L138 HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2203 7
- Design of plant, equipment and workplaces. Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved code of Practice and Guidance. L134 HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2199 5
- Storage of dangerous substances. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L135 HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2200 2
- Control and mitigation measures. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L136 HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2201 0
- Safe maintenance, repair and cleaning procedures. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L137 HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2202 9
Other guidance on flammable substances from the HSE
- Safe handling of combustible dusts: Precautions against explosions HSG103 (Second edition) HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2726 8
- Safe use and handling of flammable liquids HSG140 HSE Books 1996 ISBN 0 7176 0967 7