DSEAR Risk Assessment Checklist

Information

Site/Area/Zone
Conducted on
Prepared by
Location

DSEAR Risk Assessment Checklist

Step 1: Information

Names of the product/substance being handled, stored, or produced:
Photo (optional)
Is the substance (select all that apply)
- Explosive
- Oxidising
- Extremely Flammable
- Highly Flammable
- Flammable
- Flash point less than 32°C
- May produce explosive atmosphere due to vapour/gas/dust
You may terminate the risk assessment at this point if none was selected above, otherwise continue.
Describe how a work system, or activity could fail and give rise to fire or explosion. Mention any sources of ignition:

Step 2: Control Measures

Process/activity

Has the quantity of the dangerous substance held/used been reduced to a minimum?
Have steps been taken to avoid, or minimise releases (intentional or unintentional)?
Have steps been taken to control releases at source?
Have steps been taken to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere?
Have steps been taken to collect, contain and remove any releases to a safe place (e.g. by ventilation)?
Have steps been taken to avoid adverse conditions (e.g. Exceeding the limits of temperature or other control settings)?
Are incompatible substances kept apart in storage and, so far as is practicable, in use (e.g. oxidisers and combustibles)?
Have the number of employees exposed to the dangerous substances or explosive atmosphere been reduced to the minimum?
Has plant been supplied that is explosion resistant?
Is explosion suppression or relief provided on equipment?
Have adequate measures been taken to control or minimise the spread of fire, or explosion?
Has suitable personal Protective Equipment (PPE) been provided, and have operatives been trained how to wear it correctly?

Workplace/process and management systems

Is the workplace designed, constructed and maintained so as to provide adequate fire-resistance and/or explosion relief?
Is any assembly, construction, installation, rig, plant, equipment, protection system, etc., designed in such a manner as to minimise risk of fire and/or explosion?
Is any such assembly, construction, installation, rig, plant, equipment, protection systems, etc., used in such a manner as to minimise risk of fire and/or explosion?
Have appropriate safe systems of work, or other required procedural systems of organising work, been developed and communicated to the workforce, either by way of this form or another document?
Is a permit to work scheme required for working with the substance(s), or in the work area?
Are these strictly enforced?
Explosive atmospheres?
Have all such areas been classified in to zones in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Regulations?
Where necessary have such classified zones been marked at their entry points with the specified ‘EX’ hazard warning sign?
Are all areas classified into such zones appropriately protected from sources of ignition, through the selection of equipment and protective systems compliant with the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996?
Are employees working in zoned areas provided with clothing that does not create a risk of electrostatic discharge?
Have areas where explosive atmospheres may be present, before their first operation, been verified as being safe by a person, or organisation competent in the field of explosion protection?

Storage

Are all flammable substances kept in suitable fire resistant storage and are all quantities in excess of 50ltrs kept in dedicated and appropriately protected flammable stores?
Are all petroleum spirits, or derivatives thereof, in excess of 50ltrs kept in dedicated and appropriately protected petroleum spirit stores?
Are incompatible substances stored apart (e.g. flammables, oxidisers, combustibles, flammable gases, LPG)?
Where appropriate have storage areas been designed to provide explosion relief/resistance?

Emergency procedures

Have suitable emergency procedures been developed and communicated to the workforce to deal with adverse process conditions (e.g. exceeding limits of temperature, or other control settings)?
Have suitable emergency procedures been developed and communicated to the workforce to deal with fire and evacuation?
Have suitable emergency procedures been developed and communicated to the workforce to deal with the spillage of dangerous substances?

Waste disposal

Have suitable procedures been developed, communicated to the workforce and implemented to deal with the safe transport and disposal of dangerous substances?

Information, Instruction and Training

Has appropriate information, instruction and training, commensurate with the hazard potential of the dangerous substances, or process, been provided to the workforce as regards; product detail, hazard, risk reduction methods to be employed, management systems to be followed, emergency systems, etc.?
Are only trained and competent persons involved in work with dangerous substances?
Where any question relevant to a dangerous substance being used, produced, handled or stored has returned a No response, the subject area should be revisited to ensure that all required and reasonably practicable risk reducing measures have been implemented.