Healthcare
Healthcare DSEAR risk assessment expertise
We have provided DSEAR risk assessments for a range of healthcare environments, including hospitals, treatment centres, healthcare manufacturers, laboratories and wider NHS estate operations across the UK.
These environments often involve flammable gases, solvents, laboratory chemicals, plant systems and specialist utility areas, along with some dust-producing or biomass-related operations. Our work focuses on identifying where hazardous atmospheres may arise, confirming hazardous area classifications and helping healthcare organisations maintain safe, compliant facilities.
Stracathro Hospital
The challengeA visit was made to a new biomass installation at Stracathro Hospital, Brechin, Angus at the end of October 2014 to consider compliance in respect of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 …
Baxter Healthcare
The challengeA visit was made to Baxter Healthcare Limited site at Thetford, Norfolk, on 1st October 2015 to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). They are the manufacturer of …
Velindre NHS Trust
The challengeVelindre NHS Trust operates a large cancer treatment centre in Cardiff. As part of their internal audit system it was identified that DSEAR risks required assessment. Accordingly we visited site in August 2018 to …
Public Health England
The challengeA visit was made to the Public Health England site at Porton Down to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) around the site’s utility, storage and facilities management …
Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
The challengeA visit was made to the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust sites, at Russells Hall, Corbetts and Guest, in 2020 to consider compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), incorporating …
DSEAR risk assessments for hospitals, laboratories and healthcare estates
Healthcare environments can present a broad and sometimes overlooked DSEAR risk profile. While many activities are low risk in day-to-day use, estates, laboratory and utility operations may involve dangerous substances that require formal assessment and control.
Typical risk areas include:
- Medical and laboratory gas storage and distribution
- Natural gas incomers and fired plant
- Plant rooms and utility systems
- Biomass boiler installations and associated feedstock dust
- Laboratory solvents and flammable liquids
- Workshop paints, thinners, glues and aerosols
- Waste handling and storage areas
- Dust collection or extraction systems
In hospitals and healthcare facilities, risks often arise from how substances are stored, transferred and used within multiple areas across the estate, rather than from one single high-hazard process. This makes it important to assess both technical controls and organisational arrangements across the full site.
Our DSEAR assessments review hazardous substances, storage and utility arrangements, ventilation, ignition source control, equipment suitability and emergency measures. Where required, hazardous area classification is applied and supported by zoning drawings, tables and clear recommendations.
The aim is to help healthcare organisations understand where DSEAR applies, what controls are already effective, and what practical improvements are needed to maintain compliance while supporting safe and reliable operation of critical services.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, where dangerous substances are present and there is potential for fire or explosion risk. This can apply to plant rooms, medical gas storage, laboratories, workshops, utility systems and some specialist treatment or support areas.
Common risks include flammable gases, laboratory solvents, plant systems using gas or fuel, workshop substances, and in some cases combustible dusts associated with biomass or extraction systems.
Often, yes. These areas commonly involve the storage, use or distribution of dangerous substances and may require hazardous area classification, ventilation review and control of ignition sources.
It usually includes review of hazardous substances, utility and storage arrangements, hazardous area classification where required, and a clear action plan covering both technical and organisational controls.