Risk Assessors add DSEAR compliance to annual insurance inspections

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Maurice Young Consulting has been approached recently by a number of clients who have been asked during their annual insurer’s risk inspections to demonstrate that their ammonia refrigeration plants are compliant with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.  In one case the client has been given 60 days to confirm in writing the action that they have taken to address their current non-compliance.

The ATEX 137 Directive was formally adopted into law in the UK in 2003 and requires that all companies operating with areas, (including those containing ammonia refrigeration plant), classified as ‘Hazardous’ classify their production areas into zones and assess the risks both to their employees and their plant assets.  So why are we still getting enquiries from people asking “…What is DSEAR all about, and does it apply to me…?”

Maurice Young Consulting believes there are several underlying reasons behind this:

Firstly, some people have found it difficult to understand the standards that support the legislation, particularly those associated with non-electrical ignition sources. It’s one thing to have to spend money on achieving compliance, another if you misinterpret the requirements of the legislation and end up spending money and still find that you are not compliant. Unfortunately, lack of understanding of the requirements is no excuse for lack of action in the eyes of the HSE, and indeed the insurance companies. Certain aspects of DSEAR/ATEX can appear confusing, but this legislation is all about personnel safety, allowing the workforce to understand the issues associated with their place of work, and ensuring that the number of accidents and injuries to persons operating in these industries is reduced.

Secondly, the HSE is putting a higher priority on health and safety of operations involving flammable materials.   In fact, the HSE have already started to bring prosecutions to court for non-compliance with DSEAR/ATEX, (and have a 100% conviction record to date).  Whilst this is enough of an incentive for most organisations to get moving towards compliance at the earliest opportunity, there are still some who prefer to ‘stick their heads in the sand’, and hope that the HSE doesn’t come knocking on their door..!

So how can Maurice Young Consulting help…?

Maurice Young Consulting has successfully supported a number of well-known clients through the compliance process for the ammonia refrigeration plants with the minimum of disruption and cost.  This has all been achieved by following a scalable and phased approach to compliance developed by our in house specialists.

Whilst all clients are in a different position in relation to DSEAR/ATEX compliance, there are a number of common steps that can be applied to the compliance process.  With this in mind we have developed a simple phased approach designed to:

  • Minimise the costs
  • Make the cash flow predictable by spreading expenditure into ‘bite sized pieces’
  • Allow the client to develop his understanding of the compliance issues.
  • Demonstrate to the HSE that the client understands the compliance process and is moving forward in a logical fashion.