The provisions of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 will come into force in July 2006 for workplaces that were in use prior to July 2003. These Regulations are intended to prevent such incidents as the recent explosion at the Buncefield Oil depot.
A new Published Document, PD 6686: Guidance on directives, regulations and standards related to prevention of fire and explosion in the chemical and allied industries, discusses the European Union and United Kingdom legislation intended to minimize the risk of fire and explosion in the process industries.
It provides a comprehensive guide to the standards, draft standards and other documents that contain the technical, practical and organizational information to ensure compliance with EU Directives and UK regulations, including DSEAR. Though its scope is limited to the process industries, many of the standards and other documents discussed by PD 6686 are equally applicable to other industries.
The fire and explosion hazards covered in PD 6686 arise from use in the workplace of dangerous substances, as defined in DSEAR, and combustible substances that do not fall under the DSEAR definition of Dangerous Substances but which are capable of burning and thus participating in a fire. The legislation discussed in the Published Document specifies a risk assessment approach to dealing with fire and explosion hazards, so the procedures adopted in performing a risk assessment are used in PD 6686 as a framework with which to guide the user to the information required to prepare the assessment.
In discussing the standards, draft standards, legislation and other publications relating to the prevention of fire and explosion in the chemical and allied industries, PD 6686 is intended to compliment the planned revision to BS 5908, Code of practice for fire precautions in the chemical and allied industries.
This Published Document is not applicable to the offshore industry or to the mining industry. It is not applicable to oxidizing substances or preparations, or to substances that are used or manufactured solely for their explosive properties.