DSEAR Risk Assessment
& Hazardous Area Classification
DSEAR Risk Assessment by OTECSA Consulting. We specialise in comprehensive DSEAR Risk Assessments and Hazardous Area Classification, ensuring your operations comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
Our services span across Scotland, England, the UK and Europe, targeting industries that handle flammable materials and operate in potentially explosive atmospheres.
DSEAR Risk Assessment
DSEAR Regulations state that employers must assess all potential risks to employees and others whose safety may be affected by the use or presence of a dangerous substance at the workplace and a written record of the significant findings is required.
If you are new to handling flammable materials, or simply need an update for your site, please get in touch to discuss how we can assist by providing a cost effective DSEAR and HAC study. This can also include assessment of mechanical equipment for use in ATEX areas (MEIRA studies).
DSEAR Risk Assessment Consultants in Scotland & the UK. We can support you with all aspects of DSEAR compliance, from hazardous area classification and preparing risk assessments, to selection of equipment and design of engineering solutions. We also provide ongoing support after completion of your study if required.
How much does a DSEAR Risk Assessment cost? Read our handy guide to the likely cost of a DSEAR Risk Assessment here.
Does DSEAR apply to you? Find out the basics about when DSEAR applies here.
What we do
DSEAR Risk Assessment for Compliance & Safety
We know undertaking a DSEAR Risk Assessment can be daunting. Our approach is to work with you to simplify the assessment – providing understandable, clear outcomes which allow you to prioritise your resources.
We avoid huge reports filled with jargon to make DSEAR understandable.
We can also support you in closing out any gaps identified, while being a sounding board for ideas for improvement – if that is what you need!
Our extensive experience of DSEAR over many years and across many industries means we have most-likely come across similar challenges before. We continually find ways to minimise risk and help clients with their compliance.
DSEAR Regulations apply to any place of work where ‘dangerous’ substances may be present. A dangerous substance is one, which if not properly controlled, could cause harm to people by fire, explosion or corrosion of metal.
Dangerous substances occur in many workplaces and include materials such as paints, solvents, flammable gases, combustible dusts (for example machining dust, food dusts, wood dusts), pressurised gases and substances corrosive to metal.
DSEAR Regulations state that employers must “assess all potential risks to employees and others whose safety may be affected by the use or presence of a dangerous substance at the workplace and a written record of the significant findings is required.”
At OTECSA Consulting, we offer many specialist services to help clients comply with their obligations relating to DSEAR, depending on your needs.
DSEAR Risk Assessments, in line with guidelines in the DSEAR Regulations 2002 and the most up to date additions
DSEAR compliance reviews and gap analyses
Hazardous Area Classification, including production of drawings for existing, modified or new plant
Mechanical Equipment Ignition Risk Assessments (MEIRA)
- Cost Benefit Analysis in support of ALARP for improvements identified.
Hazardous Area Classification
(HAC)
In order to help clients comply with the ATEX ‘workplace directive (Directive 99/92/EC)’ which requires that employers must classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones, OTECSA Consulting can carry out Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) to the most relevant industry standards, depending on the applicability to the industrial sector being studied.
These industry standards include:
The British Standards for gases, liquids and dusts, which can cover all situations and flammable/ combustible materials
The Energy Institute standards, relating to oil, gas and petrochemical derived materials
The Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers, relating to natural gas installations
The Scotch Whisky Association “purple book”, relating to the distilled spirits sector
Rooted in years of extensive experience across process industries, our approach to documentation and assessment methodologies a balance balance between cost-effectiveness and comprehensive analysis. This ensures not only your compliance with regulatory obligations, but also empowers you to become the “intelligent customer” – highly regarded by health and safety enforcement agencies.
Our tailored strategies are designed to navigate the complexities of your industry, granting you peace of mind and a clear path toward operational and safety compliance.
Ignition sources
Expertise in safeguarding your operations against explosive hazards
Identifying potential ignition sources is paramount in ensuring workplace safety under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). At OTECSA Consulting, we specialise in recognising and mitigating such ignition risks, providing practical methods to manage ignition sources in hazardous areas.
Full list of ignition sources considered by the HSE:
Flames
Direct fired space and process heating
Use of cigarettes/matches etc
Cutting and welding flames
Hot surfaces
Heated process vessels such as dryers and furnaces
Hot process vessels
Space heating equipment
Mechanical machinery
Electrical equipment and lights
Spontaneous heating
Friction heating or sparks
Impact sparks
Sparks from electrical equipment
Stray currents from electrical equipment
Electrostatic discharge sparks
Lightning strikes
Electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths
Vehicles, unless specially designed or modified are likely to contain a range of potential ignition sources
Get A Quote
- Site plan drawing or sketch
- A list of chemicals handled, processed or stored, including any compressed gases
- Any P&IDs or process flow diagrams relevant to the operations
Case Studies
Take a look at some of our DSEAR & HAC specific projects. All of our case studies can be found here.
◌ Case study
OTECSA personnel have been involved in the Franke Strecno site for several years, initially assisting with the process risk assessments such as HAZOP study and LOPA studies for the production process operations being built at Strecno. This then expanded to cover the hazardous area classification of the site.
◌ Case study
Discover our pragmatic approach to DSEAR and HAC for CHP Units in a London residential development, ensuring safety and compliance.
◌ Case study
In 2022 we started working with Brown Forman, who own the BenRiach Distillery, Glenglassaugh Distillery and GlenDronach Distillery as well as a bottling facility at Newbridge, Edinburgh where the world famous Jack Daniels brand is bottled for the UK market.
Get in touch
Use our contact details, or fill out the form below to get in touch with us.