Question 1

Can a DSEAR risk assessment for changing a process on-site be completed without visiting the site?

Accepted Answer

Engaging with a competent consultant at the earliest opportunity can potentially result in significant savings. However, it is important to understand that a suitable and sufficient DSEAR assessment cannot be conducted without a site visit. The on-site visit is crucial to assess the specific changes to the process and evaluate the associated risks in order to ensure compliance and safety.

Question 2

Should a new DSEAR risk assessment be completed when changing a process on-site?

Accepted Answer

Any significant changes to equipment or processes require a revised DSEAR risk assessment to ensure ongoing compliance and safety.

Question 3

Is it acceptable to have multiple companies complete DSEAR risk assessments for different equipment/processes?

Accepted Answer

While DSEAR assessments can be conducted on different equipment in isolation, it is important to have an overall assessment of combined risks. Your business should consider the impact of activities or machinery/plant on each other and have a comprehensive DSEAR assessment.

Question 4

What are some common misconceptions about DSEAR?

Accepted Answer

There are several common misconceptions regarding DSEAR:

Many people are unaware of the regulation and believe it does not apply to the majority of workplaces
	It is mistakenly believed that high-risk activities or equipment must involve large volumes of hazardous materials, which is not the case
	Some assume that DSEAR only covers large facilities, but in fact, it includes risk assessments for staff handling even the smallest quantities of flammable liquids
	There is a misconception that DSEAR does not cover natural gas installations, pipe networks, and boiler rooms, whereas it does
	Some are unaware that DSEAR also covers the risks associated with fire and explosion of all batteries on-site
	It is wrongly assumed that it is solely the employer's responsibility to ensure their contractors are competent in DSEAR if applicable
	Having a DSEAR assessment does not automatically imply compliance with DSEAR. Compliance entails taking action on the recommendations provided in the assessment report.

Question 5

What information is required to carry out a DSEAR risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

To conduct a DSEAR risk assessment, the assessor will typically need the following information:

The nature of your business and any site-specific hazards or personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
	The size of the site and the number of buildings within it
	Access to previous DSEAR and Fire Risk Assessment reports
	Access to process diagrams and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (PIDs)
	The layout of the site, including the arrangement of processes and services
	Access to employee training records related to DSEAR, as well as risk assessments, Safe Systems of Work (SSOW), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
	Access to all areas of the site, including plant rooms and boiler houses
	A knowledgeable site contact and guide who is familiar with the site's health and safety arrangements (ideally the site health and safety manager)
	A knowledgeable site contact and guide who has information about the site's assets and maintenance arrangements (ideally the site maintenance or engineering manager)
	A knowledgeable site contact and guide who understands the site's processes (ideally the site process engineer and/or production manager)
	A list of the quantities of each flammable material stored on-site, a location map of the materials, and any segregation requirements, as well as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the materials.

Please note that the information required to carry out a DSEAR risk assessment will vary from site to site and the information above is a general guideline.

DSEAR Compliance FAQs:
Ensuring Safety and Compliance
for Your Business

Whether you're seeking guidance on the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR) applicability to your business or information on conducting a risk assessment, we are here to assist you every step of the way.