Dangerous Substances

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Dangerous Substances Explosive AtmospheresDSEAR

• A chairman's perspective

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Loscoe Not often but potentially
big impact !
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Where did we start ! ! !
ATEX Worker Protection Directive DSEAR

• ATEX Worker Protection (137) Directive
  1999/92/EC
• Minimum requirements for improving the
• safety health protection of workers
• potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres
• (References the ATEX 94/9/EC Product Directive)
• Put into UK law by means of DSEAR
• (DSEAR Dangerous Substances Explosive
  Atmospheres Regulations2002)

2002
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Timetable originally proposed

We were given 3 years to prepare
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When did we start..

• Summer 2005 gt
• Lesson 1 we missed a concentrated period of 2
  years where we could have prepared in a more
  relaxed and inclusive manner

2005
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Why did we do it ?

• Because a disparate approach was developing
  between operators which would cause inconsistency
  and lack of clarity in regulation.
• There was a lack of knowledge and understanding
  and developing our own guidance would assist both
  at an operator level and a management level

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What were the aims !

• To have a broad consensus that represented the
  industry, involving operators, consultants,
  contractors and suppliers.
• To produce practical, comprehensive and timely
  documents dealing with defined subject regions

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Who was involved
SITA - Operator Biffa - Operator Viridor -
operator Agru FML contractor Biogas
Contractor Dragon Drilling Drilling
Contractor Fugro Drilling Contractor Magpie
Drilling contractor Envirodrilling Drilling
Contractor South Tyne drilling drilling
contractor Shrigley drilling and installation
contractor Ascot Environmental Construction
contractor British Drilling Association
Association of Geomembrane installers Ener.g -
contractor
Environmental Services Association Health and
Safety Executive Environment Agency Cleanaway -
Operator Onyx - Operator Energy Institute Enitial
Contractor Ascot Contractor Viridian
Contractor Cory - Operator Enviros
Consultant SIRA health and safety
consultants Institute of Gas Engineers C P
Environmental - Consultant
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Structure of the groups
Steering Group
No 1 Overview of requirements
All members involved and directing and answering
questions from the working group
No 2 Landfill gas collection and combustion
Working Group
No 3 leachate collection and treatment
Small subset of the Steering group working on the
document production and the technical aspects
No 4 Drilling and installing in waste
Assistance
No 5 Construction works on landfill sites
Paid consultant employed to write the document
required by the working group
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Area Classification
Identifying areas and zoning of a plant according
to the probability of a flammable atmosphere
being present ( Dust Gas )
What's probable (or not ) on a landfill site ?
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Gas vapour , dust and mist zones
Understanding Zones ! !
Lack of data !

• Zone 0
• flammable atmosphere present continuously or for
  long periods or frequently
• Zone 1
• flammable atmosphere likely in normal operation
  occasionally
• Zone 2
• flammable atmosphere unlikely in normal operation
  and, if it occurs, will exist only for a short
  time

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Grades of Release

• Continuous Grade
• Continuous or long-term release (1000 hrs/year)
• e.g. analyser vent
• Primary Grade
• Release in normal operation (10 - 1000 hrs/year)
• e.g. open type sample point on gas utilisation
  side
• Secondary Grade
• Release only in abnormal operation (lt10 hrs/year)
• e.g. flanged joint, open type sample point on
  gas collection side

Difficulty of definition
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Complex issues to apply to a complex environment
Complex Integration

• Usually
• Continuous Grade Zone 0
• Primary Grade Zone 1
• Secondary Grade Zone 2
• But.
• Secondary grade poor ventilation zone 1
• Secondary grade very good ventilation
  non-hazardous
• e.g. engine containers, possibly flanges/valves
• High levels of ventilation actually produce a
  zone 2 of negligible extent, which is treated
  as non-hazardous

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Feedback through the working groups and others
Productive, professional and useful
To little detail
To complex
Overall really useful documents, professionally
produced.
To simple
To late, why were they not available earlier
Shows what the industry can do if it wants to !
To prescriptive
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Chairman's conclusion

• Really useful exercise, very productive ( one
  document every 3 months ), real industry codes of
  practise.
• Easy with motivated and committed industry
  collegues.
• Difficult where this is missing last 2
  documents are having problems securing supporters
  in the industry

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Next steps

• ICOP 6 and 7 waste handling and waste treatment
  -
• HSE have asked for a COSHH code of practise for
  landfill gas.
• Working with the EA on a landfill fires code of
  practice