The Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)
The DSEA Regulations enact the ATEX Directive in the UK, and were fully implemented in 2006.
Every Employer that requires employees to work on a gassing landfill should have a completed and up to date DSEAR Risk Assessment and have zoned any areas/plant or equipment which is assessed to be at risk from a dangerous substance and/or an explosive atmosphere in accordance with the regulations, or be planning to do one very soon.
DSEAR risk assessments should be carried out on all methane stripping plant installations due to the fact that a (normally low) gas explosion risk is present and these risk assessments are required for all plants new and existing.
It is necessary to zone all explosion risk areas within the Methane Stripping Plant, provide information and labelling to identify the zones, train all employees in the safe working methods for the operation of the plant where explosion risks exist, and keep records (possibly as a formal Explosion Protection Document).
Similar Regulations exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the Irish Republic the requirements of the ATEX Directives are implemented under the Safety, Health and Welfare Act (Explosions).
IPPTS Associates offer a DSEAR risk assessment service. Steve Last (now of IPPTS Associates) has carried out numerous DSEAR compliance projects for a wide range of clients.
We have a web site which is dedicated to ATEX compliance and DSEAR (UK) at www.atexanddsear.co.uk . Visit our ATEX and DSEAR web site for the latest information on this subject.
|
, or call 
