 Do
you know the way to compliance with these regulations?
Explosive Atmospheres Directive
ATEX (1999/92/EC)
This European directive sets out what employers
have to do, as a minimum, to protect their workforce
potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.
This must include the possibility of an explosive
atmosphere being produced by mixing two otherwise
less hazardous chemicals. As with the Chemical
Agents Directive (CAD), work place risk assessments
(including hazardous area classification), hazard
reduction, inspections, safe working practices,
training and emergency procedures are key to
compliance.
The Directive also has implications
for safety critical systems where IEC 61508
has become the applicable standard.
The Dangerous Substances
and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR)
implements the ATEX directive and parts of the
CAD. The remaining part of the CAD has been
implemented through changes to the existing
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
and other regulations. DSEAR brings mechanical,
as well as electrical equipment, used in hazardous
areas under regulatory control. Current best
practice with electrical equipment should go
along way to satisfying the regulations, but
achieving compliance for mechanical equipment
will be more difficult.
IEC 61508
This standard is applicable to safety critical
electrical, electronic and electronic programmable
systems. IEC 61511, currently under development,
applies the principles to such systems used
in the process industries. As part of work place
risk assessments, the safety integrity level
of shut-down systems (SIL) should also be assessed
in accordance with these standards.
TAS, with their wide experience
of the process, chemical, pharmaceutical and
manufacturing industries are ideally placed
to offer guidance and assistance at any, or
all, of the stages in the process of achieving
compliance with the regulations. This may include,
carrying out risk assessment, hazardous area
classifications, inspections, documenting procedures,
record maintenance or a range of other services.
In the years 2004-2006 TAS
has assisted clients with compliance with DSEAR
within the following sectors:-
- Oil + Gas
- Pharmaceutical
- Buildings and Estates Infrastructure
- Utilities
- Healthcare Estates
- Chemical Manufacturing + Storage
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