What are DSEAR/ATEX risk assessments?
DSEAR/ATEX risk assessments are crucial for creating a safe working environment in industries where explosive atmospheres are a potential risk. Regular reviews and updates to the risk assessment are necessary to account for changes in processes, equipment, or substances that may affect the risk profile of the workplace.
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) apply to any industrial premises handling or storing flammable, explosive or corrosive substances, since 2015 DSEAR also applies to gases under pressure and substances corrosive to metal. These are substances that could, if not properly controlled, cause harm to people as a result of a fire, explosion or asphyxiation.
They can be found in nearly all workplaces and include such things as solvents, paints, varnishes, flammable gases, including liquid petroleum gas(LPG), dust from machining and sanding operations, dust from foodstuffs, pressurised gases and substances corrosive to metal, such as acids(hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric) and bases (ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide).
ATEX specifically deals with equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, while DSEAR is broader, covering the overall management of risks associated with dangerous substances, including those that may lead to explosive atmospheres.
How can Gexcon assist?
Gexcon's approach to DSEAR risk assessment will not only consider risks to people as required by health and safety law, but also the risks to the business (plant and equipment). We will also comment on the installation of any prevention, protection (explosion mitigation and isolation systems) and their application to the process. This approach will assess the consequences of a fire or explosion on both personnel and equipment within the facility.
Gexcon can provide compliance support with these main requirements of the regulations
Gexcon supports our clients by offering a comprehensive evaluation to identify, assess, and manage the risks associated with the presence of dangerous substances and the potential for explosive atmospheres in the workplace. The assessment is aimed at complying with regulatory requirements and ensuring the safety of personnel and the workplace.
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1Risk Assessment (Regulation 5)
Requires that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is performed where a dangerous substance is (or could be) present at the workplace. The risk assessment must consider several different elements which are detailed in Regulation 5 Paragraph 2.
The risk assessment will assess the probability and consequences of a fire, an explosion, asphyxiation, and/or any other similar energy-releasing events. The risk assessment will be semi-quantitative and allow the high-risk areas to be readily identified.
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2Elimination Or Reduction Of Risks (Regulation 6)
Requires the employer to ensure that the risk is eliminated or reduced so far as is reasonably practicable. DSEAR specifies a hierarchy of measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, which includes both control and mitigation measures.
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3Hazardous Area Classification (Regulation 7)
Requires a hazardous area classification to be conducted. Places at the workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur are classified into hazardous or non-hazardous areas, those classified as hazardous are further classified into zones. When zoning a hazardous area, factors such as substances used, the quantity of those substances, work processes, and process conditions, will be taken into consideration to determine the frequency of a potentially explosive atmosphere being present.
Gexcon will determine the extent and designation of all hazardous zones within the facility based on the likelihood of a flammable atmosphere occurring using the relevant standards for gases, dusts and liquids in line with Regulation 7 Paragraph 1. Regulation 7 Paragraph 4 also requires that, before a workplace containing hazardous areas is used for the first time, the employer ensures its overall explosion safety is verified by a person competent in the field of explosion protection as a result of their experience, training, or both.
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4Information, Instruction or Training (Regulation 9)
Requires that appropriate information, training and instruction is given to contractors and employees on the dangerous substances present together with information on the hazards, risks, precautions and actions necessary for them to remain safe.
Gexcon offer a wide range of training courses for different requirements – from directors, senior management, capital project, engineers, operators and cleaning personnel. These courses can be delivered remotely or in-person, and we also have interactive SCORM compatible online training tools that can be integrated with your Learning Management System (LMS).
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With over 40 years of experience in the field of process safety and risk management, Gexcon's team of dedicated consultants has the knowledge, passion, and expertise to support you through every step of your project life-cycle.
Maintaining regulatory compliance
