The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations  (DSEAR) require employers to control the risks to safety from fire,  explosions, and substances corrosive to metals.

What is DSEAR?

DSEAR stands for the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.

Dangerous substances can put peoples’ safety at risk from fire, explosion, and corrosion of metal. DSEAR puts duties on employers and the self-employed to protect people from these risks to their safety in the workplace, and to members of the public who may be put at risk by work activity.

What are dangerous substances?

Dangerous substances are any substances used or present at work that could if not properly controlled, cause harm to people as a result of a fire or explosion, or corrosion of metal. They can be found in nearly all workplaces and include such things as solvents, paints, varnishes, flammable gases, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), dust from machining and sanding operations, and dust from foodstuffs, pressurized gases, and substances corrosive to metal.

What does DSEAR require?

Employers must:

• find out what dangerous substances are in their workplace and what the risks are
• put control measures in place to either remove those risks or, where this is not possible, control them
• put controls in place to reduce the effects of any incidents involving dangerous substances
• prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents, and emergencies involving dangerous substances
• make sure employees are properly informed about and trained to control or deal with the risks from the dangerous substances
• identify and classify areas of the workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur and avoid ignition sources (from unprotected equipment, for example) in those areas