Entec
Bulletin
DSEAR Deadline Approaches
The absolute deadline under Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (aka DSEAR) when all existing workplaces need to be in full compliance is the beginning of July 2006. Non-compliance could lead to jail or heavy fines, not to mention possibly fatal incidents.
How are organisations complying with the recently implemented DSEAR? The regulations came into force officially on 9th December 2002 and apply to all dangerous substances at nearly every business in the UK and set minimum requirements for the protection of workers from the risks of fire and explosion.
Since the regulations came into force, employers and manufacturers have had a legal obligation to protect their workers from potentially explosive atmospheres and take the necessary steps to safeguard them. All new workplaces where a risk of fire or explosion is identified and which came into use or were modified after 30th June 2003 are required to have been inspected and classified to ensure compliance.
Recent surveys suggest that some companies have yet to meet their obligations under the regulations in assessing the risks of fire and explosion in their business. While some large process companies are progressing well towards compliance, others are either unclear of their obligations or are aware, but have yet to achieve, full DSEAR compliance.
A range of DSEAR compliance work has been
undertaken by Entec, utilising its considerable expertise in risk management.
This includes a quantified
DSEAR
risk assessment for Northumbrian Water's Bran Sands sewage sludge dryer
to determine risks from internal and external explosions, the production
of
a DSEAR compliance guide and procedures manual for a large chemical
manufacturing facility, and hazardous area classification for a variety of
facilities
including an LNG terminal, refineries, sewage treatment works, digesters,
chemical
loading
and storage and leachate handling.
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