ABSTRACT

These Regulations, often abbreviated to DSEAR, came into effect fully on 30 June 2003, putting in place requirements for eliminating or reducing risks to safety from fire, explosion or other events triggered by the properties of any ‘dangerous substance’ in connection with work activities. They give effect in the UK to the EC Directives on Chemical Agents (98/24/EC) and Explosive Atmospheres (99/92/EC). Repeals and revocations carried out by the Regulations include some requirements that have been in place for more than 80 years (dealing with celluloid and cinema film work) and other more recent and possibly more familiar regulations, including those on dry cleaning. Perhaps most significantly, the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972 have disappeared. All these topics and others are, of course, covered within the wide scope of the DSEAR. As usual, the reader is advised to consult the full text of the Regulations (SI 2002 No 2776), together with the ACoP, for full details of classifications, criteria and Schedules, as only a summary can be attempted here.