Dangerous and explosive substances (DSEAR) safety
Dangerous substances are flammable gases, mists or vapours or combustible dusts that could, if not properly controlled, cause explosive atmospheres. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) require the risks from dangerous substances to be removed or controlled to protect people from explosion and fire.
Responsibilities for DSEAR safety are outlined in the Health and Safety Policy.
Examples found at work include:
- solvents
- paints and varnishes
- flammable gases
- liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
- dusts from machining and sanding operations
- dusts from food
- pressurised gases
- substances corrosive to metal
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have a wide range of up-to-date information and resources to help you decide if a substance is dangerous:
Requirements
To prevent or reduce the risk from dangerous substances, those responsible should ensure the following process is carried out:
Identify dangerous substances
Find out what dangerous substances you have and the fire and explosion risk. You should refer to the safety data sheet for the substance, which will give you information on the hazardous and dangerous properties of the substance. You should also make sure you are aware of any sources of potentially dangerous dusts. Dangerous dusts are any substance which exists in a fine powder that can burn.
It is strongly recommended that a departmental dangerous substance inventory is kept and maintained detailing the substances and where they are stored.
Risk assessment
Carry out a risk assessment and record it. This is a careful examination of the dangerous substance hazards you use and store at work, the likelihood of creating an explosive atmosphere, potential ignition sources and the expected consequences and who could be harmed.
Further advice on risk assessing dangerous substances can be found in the HSE’s brief guide to DSEAR. Advice is also available from Health and Safety.
Control measures
If you cannot remove the substance, put in place control measures to reduce the likelihood of an explosion and the consequences if it does, including emergency arrangements. Schedule 1 General safety measures (.pdf) details what must be considered when selecting and implementing risk controls.
Training
Provide information, instruction and training for employees and others to control or deal with the risk.
Zoning and ignition sources
Identify and classify areas of the workplace where explosive atmosphere may occur and avoid ignition sources in those areas. For more information on zoning and ignition sources, the HSE have advice on hazardous area classification and control of ignition sources.
Also see
Working with substances Fire Safety Risk assessments
