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Byrne
Ó Cléirigh's ATEX Expertise
Summary
of Obligations on Employers
Additional
Information on ATEX Compliance
Download
ATEX Briefing Documents
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ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosives)
Directives -
1994/09/EC
& 1999/92/EC
The
ATEX legislation is just one part of a growing body of legislation that
has been adopted throughout the developed world to guarantee a high level
of protection for both man and the environment.
Such legislation is aimed at the prevention of major accidents
involving dangerous substances and at limiting their consequences.
Byrne Ó Cléirigh have built up a considerable body of know-how in
helping our Clients achieve compliance with this legislation.
We
have prepared a Risk Management Briefing Note setting out the main
obligations on employers under the ATEX legislation and a detailed
presentation outlining a methodology for compliance. These documents
are available to download
here. |
Byrne
Ó Cléirigh's ATEX Expertise We
have extensive experience in undertaking risk management assignments at sites
with explosive atmosphere hazards including assignments at pharmaceutical
plants, chemical storage, oil storage & refining, LPG storage, solvent
processing, metals processing, printing, packaging, brewing and powder
handling facilities. Based on this experience, we are well placed to
provide a complete range of technical services to help our Clients comply
with the ATEX legislation including:
 | Gap
Analysis - to identify the ‘gap’ between the current status of a
site with respect to protection against explosive atmospheres and the
requirements for full compliance with the ATEX legislation;
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Development
of procedures required for compliance;
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Explosion
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment;
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Identification
of Explosion Protection Measures to reduce the risk associated with
hazardous areas;
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Hazardous
Area Zoning;
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Preparation
of Explosion Protection Document;
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Training;
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management & co-ordination of ATEX Compliance Projects; |
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of relevant elements of the Chemical Agents Directive (1998/24/EC) and
the ATEX Manufacturers Directive (1994/09/EC). |
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Summary
of Obligations on Employers Directive
1999/92/EC sets out the minimum requirements for improving the safety and
health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive
atmospheres. It is frequently referred to as the ATEX ‘Users’
Directive and was transposed into Irish legislation as the Safety,
Health and Welfare at Work (Explosive Atmospheres) Regulations,
2003. The principal obligations on employers at sites where
explosive atmospheres could potentially be present are to:
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Protect
workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres; |
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Assess
the risks arising from explosive atmospheres; |
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Develop
and maintain an Explosion Protection Document; |
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Classify
places where explosive atmospheres may occur into appropriate
Hazardous Area Zones; |
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Implement
appropriate technical and / or organisational Explosion Protection
Measures to protect workers from explosive atmospheres. |
An
explosive atmosphere is defined as a mixture with air, under atmospheric
conditions, of flammable substances in the form of gases, vapours, mists
or dusts in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the
entire unburned mixture.
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Additional
Information on ATEX Compliance
If
you wish to discuss ATEX compliance in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact Tom
Cleary,
Ambrose
Clarke
or LP Ó Cléirigh by email
or by telephoning + 353 1 677 0733.
Our
Risk Management Briefing Note on ATEX and our Presentation on ATEX
compliance can be downloaded here.
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