It is a written assessment of the fire and explosion risk created by the dangerous substances on your site, and of what you are doing about it.
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 require every employer to assess the risk from dangerous substances before work starts, and to keep that assessment current. A dangerous substance is anything that can catch fire or explode at work, plus, since a 2015 amendment, gases under pressure and substances corrosive to metals.
The point most people miss: DSEAR is not about how much you hold. It is about whether an explosive atmosphere can form. A shallow tray of solvent in a poorly ventilated room can put you in scope faster than a properly bunded bulk tank outside.
| Regulation | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Reg 5 | Carry out a risk assessment covering the substances, the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere, ignition sources and the consequences. |
| Reg 6 | Eliminate the risk where you can. Where you cannot, control it and mitigate the effects. |
| Reg 7 | Classify places where explosive atmospheres may occur into zones, and make sure equipment in those zones is suitable. |
| Reg 8 | Put emergency arrangements in place: procedures, drills, escape, first aid, warning systems. |
| Reg 9 | Give employees information, instruction and training on the substances and the controls. |
| Reg 10 | Mark containers and pipework carrying dangerous substances. |
An assessment that only covers Regulation 5 and stops is the most common failing we see. Zoning and emergency arrangements are where inspections tend to land.
Once you know where an explosive atmosphere can form, you classify those places. Zoning is what tells your electrician which equipment is legal to install.
| Zone | Gas, vapour or mist | Equipment category |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Present continuously, for long periods, or frequently | Category 1 |
| Zone 1 | Likely to occur occasionally in normal operation | Category 2 |
| Zone 2 | Not likely in normal operation, and only briefly if it does | Category 3 |
| Zone | Combustible dust | Equipment category |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 20 | Dust cloud present continuously, for long periods, or frequently | Category 1 |
| Zone 21 | Likely to occur occasionally in normal operation | Category 2 |
| Zone 22 | Not likely in normal operation, and only briefly if it does | Category 3 |
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
The HSE on most industrial sites, and the local authority in some retail and warehousing settings. Fire and rescue authorities also take an interest where DSEAR overlaps with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Yes. The regulations do not set a threshold quantity. A small joinery shop with a dust extractor, or a garage with a parts washer, is in scope in exactly the same way a refinery is. What changes is the depth of assessment that is reasonable.
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