You’d be surprised what companies have tucked away in a corner: a half-empty drum, a bottle in the store room, a bag of fine powder under the mezzanine. On paper it’s nothing. In the wrong place it’s a hazard. DSEAR — the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations — exists because those ordinary things can become extraordinary problems when they meet an ignition source.
Why this matters to you
If you run a site with chemicals, fuels, solvents, powders, aerosols, gases or even large amounts of wood dust, there are three questions every manager should be able to answer:
What substances do we have, where are they, and who owns them?
What are their dangerous properties (flammability, vapour pressure, explosive dust)?
Could those substances form an atmosphere that, with a spark, results in a significant fire or explosion?
Most businesses can’t answer all three. That’s the risk.
What a DSEAR assessment actually does
A good DSEAR assessment is not a tick-box exercise. It:
Finds and records every dangerous substance on site.
Maps quantities and storage locations.
Evaluates how substances are used in everyday tasks.
Assesses possible release scenarios and consequences.
Classifies hazardous areas so controls can be applied in the right places.
Recommends sensible, proportionate engineering, administrative and training measures.
Common blind spots we see
Loose containers in welfare areas or shared stores.
Solvent-borne processes moved next to electrical panels.
Dust collection systems with poor earthing.
Flammable liquids stored unopened in unventilated cupboards.
Temporary works or contractors introducing ignition sources.
DSEAR is a legal duty: employers must assess the risks from dangerous substances and put in place measures to eliminate or reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable. It’s sensible law. It’s also what insurers and regulators will expect if something goes wrong.
Business value (not just compliance)
A good DSEAR assessment reduces downtime, lowers insurance risk, protects people and saves reputations. It also gives you data: quantities, maps and priorities so you can spend money where it reduces real risk — not where it looks nice on a spreadsheet.
How York Green works (the practical bit)
Scoping call - we'll find out about you and your site.
Site visit and walk with your team.
Substance register and storage map.
Hazard and scenario analysis; hazardous area classification where needed.
Prioritised action plan with clear, affordable steps.
Optional: site-specific eLearning modules so staff know what to do.
A quick checklist you can use today
Do you have a current substance register? If no, put one at the top of the list.
Where are your ignition sources? Are they close to stores or processes?
Are containers labelled and in suitable storage?
Is your earthing tested for bulk transfer equipment?
When did you last train staff on dangerous substances and EX Zones?
If you can’t answer all of the checklist reliably, you’ve got a DSEAR problem worth fixing.