DSEAR Assessments for Garage Facilities
We’ve been working with a global car manufacturer on their 28 sites across Scotland to deliver DSEAR assessments for their garage and workshop facilities.
Someone not familiar with DSEAR might think that a garage would have little to no fire or explosion risks… however it may not be what they’d expect!
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 are concerned with the protection against risks from fire, explosion and similar energetic events which arise from dangerous substances used or present in the workplace. Dangerous substances could range from solvents and paints to flammable gases and liquids. Many of which are stored or used in nearly all workplaces across the country.
After completing the risk assessments, it was clear there was a significant inventory of flammable materials used across all sites in everyday operations. This was predominantly waste petrol and diesel mixtures which are decanted from the vehicles being serviced, seat belt pretensioners and explosible air bag components, along with miscellaneous products such as car cleaning equipment, various aerosol products and in some cases compressed gas cylinders.
Each location differed in how they managed routine tasks handling flammable materials which made each risk assessment unique. This meant each site was given specific recommendations in order to allow safe operating conditions for the workforce.
As with any DSEAR risk assessment, the assessment should be suitable and sufficient to the size of the site. As a result, specific recommendations were given to ensure relevant good practice was followed for the storage of flammable materials following HSG 51 and ensuring the workforce are trained in the risks associated with handling the various flammable materials on site.
