We were recently contacted by a business to quote to undertake a Fire risk assessment yet when talking to the business it quickly became apparent they needed a DSEAR assessment as well as the Fire risk assessment. However the person in the business indicated they didn’t know what a DSEAR assessment was let alone whether they needed one.
We explained that although a fire risk assessment is something all businesses require it does not go into the flammability and potential explosivity of flammable substances, gases and dusts. That’s where DSEAR is required.
Often we find the first time businesses become aware of this is when it’s raised as an issue by the HSE, their Insurers, ISO auditors or the fire risk assessors they have employed. It comes as quite a shock they have been non-compliant for many years as DSEAR came into force in 2002.
This business was a distillery and given the nature of the products used clearly fall under DSEAR and a Fire risk assessment will not be enough to achieve compliance. We did suggest a combined Fire and DSEAR assessment was what they needed and that going to a provider that can cover both would be the most cost effective option, a service that we would be able to supply.
It seems to us crazy that so many businesses separate these assessment services and pay for two suppliers when one visit could cover both requirements. However it’s a customer’s choice as to how and when they address these needs.
