Transport
Transport DSEAR risk assessment expertise
We have provided DSEAR risk assessments for a wide range of transport environments, including depots, workshops, forecourts, airport fuelling facilities, vehicle maintenance operations and transport infrastructure sites across the UK.
These environments often involve the storage, transfer and use of flammable fuels, gases and solvents, alongside maintenance activities that can introduce ignition risks. Our work focuses on identifying where hazardous atmospheres may arise, confirming hazardous area classifications and helping operators maintain safe, compliant facilities.
British Airways Engineering
The challengeA visit was made to British Airways Interiors Engineering (BAIE) site near Blackwood, South Wales in October 2013, and again in 2017, to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 …
Urban Vision Partnership
The challengeGalliford Try plc operates a highways maintenance contract for Salford City Council under the ‘Urban Vision’ banner. A visit was made to their depot at Swinton Hall Road, in Salford in April 2014, to …
BWOC forecourt – Brent Knoll
The challengeA visit was made to the BWOC forecourt site at Brent Knoll in Somerset in November 2013, to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). The BWOC premises are …
Coryton Limited
The challengeA visit was made to Coryton Commercials site at Purfleet, Essex on 27th April 2015 to consider compliance in respect of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). The Purfleet site is …
Noble Foods
The challengeA visit was made to Noble Foods Limited Cotswold Farm premises at Witney on 13th May 2015 to consider compliance in respect of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). This was …
Culture Coventry
The challengeA visit was made to two of Culture Coventry’s sites; Coventry Transport Museum, and Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, on 8th December 2015 to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations …
Doppelmayr Cable Car UK
The challengeThe Challenge: Doppelmayr Cable Car, or DCC, based at Birmingham International Airport, operates two busy cable propelled automated passenger movement vehicles on an elevated trackway between the rail station and airport passenger terminal. We …
Exeter Airport
The challengeAn external audit of this busy regional airport identified that a DSEAR risk assessment was required for the bulk aviation fuelling facility. The facility stores and dispenses Avtur for commercial jet aircraft and Avgas …
Bournemouth Airport
The challengeAs a due diligence requirement, it was identified that a DSEAR risk assessment was required for the bulk aviation fuelling facility at Bournemouth Airport. The facility stores and dispenses Avtur / Jet A1 for …
BAE Walney Island
The challengeWalney Island Airfield is located north west of the centre of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. The airfield is owned by BAE Systems, who operate private flights for commuting staff to and from other facilities in …
Haynes Trucks
The challengeHaynes Trucks maintains diesel, CNG and LNG trucks at its depot in Ashford. A request was made to carry out a review of workshop operations as regards the additional risks posed by the servicing …
LNER
The challengeA visit was made to LNER’s Clayhills Service Delivery Deport, Aberdeen, in September 2020 to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), incorporating Amendment 1: June 2015. At the …
Pdp Consulting
The challengeA request was made to by PDP Green on 14th May 2020 to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), incorporating Amendment 1: June 2015, for a new diesel …
Signature Technicair
The challengeA visit was made to the Signature Technicair Bournemouth Airport facility in February 2020, to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), incorporating Amendment 1: June 2015. At the …
ECM
The challengeDSEAR Risk Assessments Ltd was commissioned to undertake a DSEAR review of the process operations at ECM’s Coventry & Carlise sites in 2023. The site operations included a range of items that require assessment …
DSEAR risk assessments for depots, fuelling facilities and transport operations
Transport environments often present DSEAR risks because fuels and other dangerous substances are stored, dispensed or used as part of day-to-day operations.
Typical risk areas include:
- Bulk fuel storage and dispensing systems
- LPG, CNG and LNG installations
- Diesel and petrol storage tanks
- Aviation fuelling facilities and mobile refuelling equipment
- Vehicle maintenance workshops and repair bays
- Paint, solvent and coating operations
- Battery charging and associated hydrogen risks
- Compressed gas storage and workshop consumables
In many transport settings, the primary DSEAR hazards arise from fuel transfer, dispensing and storage. Petrol, Avgas, Avtur, LPG and other flammable fuels can generate vapours that may ignite if released in the presence of an ignition source.
Workshops and maintenance areas often add further risks through the use of paints, thinners, gases, battery charging systems and general flammable storage. Even where purpose-designed systems are already in place, hazardous area classification and effective planned maintenance remain important to ensure risks stay under control.
Transport sites can also involve open yards, mobile fuelling equipment and public-facing or operationally busy environments, so separation, signage, emergency controls and restricting unauthorised access to hazardous areas are often key parts of compliance.
Our DSEAR assessments review both storage and operational risks, including transfer systems, ventilation, ignition controls, integrity of installations, housekeeping and procedural arrangements. Where required, hazardous area classification is applied and supported by clear zoning drawings and practical recommendations.
The result is a clear, structured report that helps transport operators, depot managers and infrastructure teams understand their risks and maintain compliance with DSEAR.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, where flammable fuels, gases, solvents or other dangerous substances are stored or used, a DSEAR assessment is usually required.
The main risks are typically associated with fuel storage and dispensing, workshop maintenance activities, battery charging, compressed gases and flammable liquid handling.
Yes. Bulk fuel storage, dispensing systems and mobile refuelling operations all require assessment where flammable liquids and vapours may create explosive atmospheres.
In many cases, yes. They are particularly important around fuel storage, dispensing points, workshops and any area where flammable vapours or gases may be released.