DSEAR
DSEAR and ATEX Consulting Services
Whether your business processes natural materials or synthesised chemicals there are important health and safety actions that you need to take in order to comply with the requirements of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR 2002).
The DSEAR regulations specifically address process safety hazards in the workplace. These hazards include handling combustible dusts, controlling chemical reactions, and using materials that are explosive, flammable or oxidising. If not adequately controlled, these hazards could lead to dangerous fire and explosion risks.
Providing a comprehensive understanding of hazards and risks in the process and allied industries, we consult & support our clients to eliminate or reduce the risks from dangerous substances and protect their workers and members of the public.
What are dangerous substances?
Any substances and materials used or present at work that could cause injury as a result of an explosion, a fire, including the failure of a pressure vessel due to corrosion to metal. Dangerous substances can be found in almost all workplaces and include both the more obvious solvents, paints, varnishes, flammable gases, LPG; along with the less obvious combustible dusts (metals from machining, wood dusts from sanding operations, and processing of foodstuffs), pressurised gases and substances corrosive to metal.
What does DSEAR require employers to do?
Employers must:
- identify what dangerous substances are in the workplace and assess the risks they pose
- put measures in place to remove the risks, or appropriately control the remaining risks
- put controls in place to lessen the consequences of any incidents involving dangerous substances, create plans and procedures to deal with incidents involving dangerous substances
- ensure employees are informed and trained to control and deal with the risks posed by the dangerous substances
- identify and classify areas of the workplace where explosive atmospheres occur and avoid ignition sources in those areas
- label hazardous contents of containers and pipes
- co-ordinate with other employers
- ensure overall explosion safety is verified by a competent person.
Employers must assess the specific risks from explosive atmospheres, taking into account at least:
- The likelihood that explosive atmospheres will occur and their persistence
- The likelihood that ignition sources, including electrostatic discharges, will be present and become active / effective
- The installations, substances used, processes and their possible interactions The scale of the anticipated effects.
Your Benefits
- Expert advice on process safety topics
- Safe processes and reduced explosion risk
- Reliable support in questions of compliance
- Consistent worldwide delivery
- In house dedicated process safety testing laboratory
Our Approach
Experience has taught us that every process is unique, and your company will receive a bespoke risk assessment from industry experts based on the latest understanding of process safety issues. We work with you to explore multiple options for achieving an appropriate level of safety.
Sometimes there are gaps in important pieces of process safety information. Our consultants are uniquely placed to work with our in-house world leading process safety laboratories to provide the information that you need.
Why DEKRA?
We are the explosion safety experts.
We have the resources to accommodate your explosion safety needs and requests including a UK based GLP laboratory specialising in process safety testing.
We specialise in topics related to DSEAR, ATEX, NFPA and hazardous area classification, such as SIL determination, LOPA studies, HAZOP leadership, COMAH safety case preparation, EPS regulation compliance.
From pharmaceutical manufacture to sewage sludge handling, we have over 30 years of experience helping Companies like yours to work safely with dangerous substances.