Which Safety Legislation Applies to My Site?

6 Engineering are safety engineering experts who can help you get started with understanding which legislation your site needs to comply with and where gaps may be. The most important considerations are: do you know where your hazards are, and how are you managing them?

A brief introduction to some of the laws and best practices which may apply to your facility:

Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH): 

These regulations do not apply to all chemical processing sites, but those they do affect are under a higher degree of scrutiny from the HSE and are required to have a higher degree of communication with their local authorities and communities.

COMAH site status is determined by the volume of specified chemicals held on site according to given risk criteria – such as those relating to flammability, oxidising potential or toxicity to people and the environment. There are two tiers depending on volumes of hazardous substances; Lower and Upper. All COMAH sites are required to have rigorous risk management plans, and Upper Tier COMAH sites must also submit a Safety Report and Emergency Plan to their local competent authority and emergency services.

You can determine if COMAH status may apply to your site by reviewing Control of Major Accident Hazards 2015 Schedule 1 which lists hazard types and minimum quantities for each tier – remember that aggregation of hazardous substances must also be considered, so being under the individual listed totals for each of flammables and toxics does not necessarily mean you are exempt from COMAH law.

It is not sufficient to have a well-populated folder of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). A COSHH risk assessment differs from an SDS in that it reviews the hazards associated with the chemical in use rather than as an isolated substance, resulting in a task-based risk assessment covering each stage of handling or potential employee exposure after arrival on site, and should also take into account changes in phase or reaction processes which will not be specified in an SDS. Where elimination or hazards cannot be achieved, control measures such as ventilation, reduced handling quantities or use of personal protection equipment (PPE) should be managed and documented appropriately.

Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR): 

Does your site handle flammable liquids, dusts with the potential to cause substantial fires and explosions, highly energetic reactions or substances corrosive to metal? You very likely need to be compliant with DSEAR. 

If DSEAR applies to your site, you need to understand the areas affected by these substances including storage, handling, production and packaging to be able to identify and manage control measures and reduce the likelihood of a fire or explosion on your site. A DSEAR assessment reviews potential for direct harm to personnel and preventing escalation of an incident through sufficient containment should an explosion occur. It identifies degrees of risk in the affected areas and the control measures needed to reduce the likelihood and severity of an incident, taking into account sources of ignition such as electrical components and those of mechanical origin. It also highlights which zones require identification through signage and training to notify those working in these areas of a hazard relating to fire or explosion.

Hazard Assessment:

The most important thing is to understand where things can go wrong on your site and potentially expose your employees or the general public to substances which can cause them harm. You can use a variety of tools to identify these scenarios, including HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA and many others. These assessments can then support you with the design and operation of your facility in a safe manner for all.

Further legislation detail can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk

Stuck? We can help. Our facility hazard assessment involves a review of your site to take things right back to basics and support you on your journey to a safer site. Find more information about our services and how to contact us at www.6engineering.co.uk