atex 137 datasheet.pdf

7/28/2019 ATEX 137 Datasheet.pdf

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ATEX 137

‘THE USE DIRECTIVE’

Sira Test & Certification Ltd Form 9212

Hazardous Area Centre, Rake Lane, Eccleston, Chester, England. CH4 9JN. Issue 4 Tel: +44 (0)1244 670 900, Fax: +44 (0)1244 681 330, e-mail: [email protected]

Certification and EU Notified Body activities are undertaken by Sira Certification Service (SCS), the independent certification body of Sira

THE EUROPEAN DIRECTIVE FOR THE PROTECTION OF

WORKERS POTENTIALLY AT RISK FROM

EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES Each year of the 120 million workers within theEuropean Union, 10 million are the victim of work-related accidents or disease and 8000 die. Overthe past 30 Years, the need to improve conditionsin the work place has been one of the EuropeanCommission’s primary objectives.

Within the European Community an EC treaty wasagreed by all member states which provides boththe legal and general principle:

‘Member states shall pay particular attention

to encouraging improvements, especially inthe working environment, as regards thehealth and safety of workers, and shall set astheir objective the harmonisation of conditionsin this area, while maintaining theimprovements made’.

Consequently, on the 12th

J une 1989 Directive89/391/EEC (the Framework Directive) wasadopted.

The Framework Directive represents the core of the Commission’s strategy on health and safetyand is intended to be supplemented by individualdirectives, specifying minimum requirements andcovering areas such as the use of workequipment, personal protective equipment andmanual handling.

The ATEX 137 Directive sets out to improve thehealth and safety protection of all workers

potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. Itwas published in the official journal of EuropeanCommunities on 28

thJ anuary 2000 as Directive

99/92/EC. It is the 15th

individual directive of theFramework Directive (89/391/EEC).

94/9/EC versus 99/92/EC - Who isResponsible?

99/92/EC (ATEX 137) is intended to complement94/9/EC (ATEX 100a). These two directives coverdifferent areas and are intended to achievedifferent objectives. Responsibilities and dutiesare shared between the manufacturer and user

(employer).

99/92/EC (ATEX 137)

• Covers health and safety protection of workers.

• Duties are placed on the employer.

• Intended to ensure that workers enjoy aminimum level of protection throughout allmember states.

94/9/EC (ATEX 100a)

• Covers products intended for use in

hazardous areas.• Duties are placed on the

manufacturer/supplier of the product.• Intended to facilitate the free movement of

goods within the EU.

Special Requirements for Hazardous Areasin Accordance with ATEX 137

As on 1st

J uly 2006, ATEX 137 became fullymandatory. All hazardous areas must nowconform to the Directive.

The employer must take the necessary steps toensure all modifications to hazardous area fromnow on comply with the appropriate minimumrequirements of ATEX 137.



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Fig 1 – Example of Area Classification. A road t anker parked fo r unloading

DSEAR Regulations

The Dangerous Substances and ExplosiveAtmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) sets minimumrequirements for the protection of workers fromfire and explosion risks related to dangeroussubstances and potentially explosive atmospheresin the workplace.

DSEAR is the ‘framework’ adopted by UK Government and the Health & Safety Executive(HSE) to facilitate compliance to ATEX 137 withinthe UK.

Other European countries will not adhere toDSEAR specifically, however, there will be similarframeworks in place as a vehicle towards ATEX137 compliance.

Responsibilities and Requirements of DSEAR & ATEX 137

It is the responsibility of the employer to minimisethe risks to their employees that can result frompotentially explosive atmospheres (i.e. wherethere is presence of gases, vapours, liquids ordusts).

DSEAR calls upon several requirementsto facilitate this:

Conduct risk assessments of non-electricalequipment already installed on-site.

Carry out competent risk assessments on any

work activities involving dangerous substances.

Provide equipment and procedures to deal withaccidents and emergencies.

Provide instruction and training to employees.

Classify the site into zones of risk (AreaClassification).

Use appropriate (certified) equipment inhazardous areas.

Co-ordinate site health and safety for all users of the site, including subcontractors, maintenance

crews, security staff etc.

Furthermore, any measures taken must bereviewed regularly, particularly when anysignificant changes are made to the hazardousarea workplace.

The Risk Assessment

The employer is already required to carry out arisk assessment under the requirements of theframework directive (89/391/EEC). The riskassessment is not therefore an additionalrequirement.

Article 4 of directive 99/92/EC obliges theemployer to carry out an assessment of the risksarising specifically from explosive atmospheres. The risk assessment must take account of thefollowing:



ATEX 137





• The likelihood that an explosiveatmosphere will occur.

• The likelihood that potential ignitionsources will be present.

• The intended process, installation,substances used and any possibleinteraction between them.

• The scale of the anticipated effects.

The Explosion Protection Document (EPD)

The EPD is based on the risk assessment. Oncethe risk assessment has been carried out andidentified a likelihood that workers may beexposed to an explosive atmosphere, an EPD

must be drawn up. This must be done beforecommencing work and it must be revised in theevent that the workplace, work equipment ororganisation of the work undergoes significantchange. Existing documents or other equivalentreports may be utilised to satisfy this requirementto avoid unnecessary duplication.

Any workplace which contains locations where anexplosive atmosphere may occur must be verifiedbefore it is put into operation for the first time. This verification must be carried out by persons

competent in the field of explosion protection. This competence must be demonstrable in theform of experience and/or professional training. The EPD must demonstrate that all explosionrisks have been determined and assessed. Those locations or areas which have beenidentified as “hazardous locations” shall beidentified in the EPD.

The Warning Sign

The requirement for a warning sign is in line withthe EC Safety Signs Directive. The purpose of this directive is to encourage the standardisationof safety signs throughout the member states sothat signs, wherever they are seen, have thesame meaning.

Directive 99/92/EC requires that, wherenecessary, locations where explosiveatmospheres may occur shall be marked withwarning signs at their point of entry. The warningsign must have certain distinctive features. Itmust be triangular in shape, utilise black letteringon a yellow background with black edging.

The yellow background must constitute at least50% of the area of the sign. Other explanatorydata may be added to the sign.

Fig 2 - Warning Sign for Locations whereExplosive Atmospheres may occur

(Directive 99/92/EC).

Summary of Main Duties on Employers:

• Prepare an explosion protectiondocument (EPD)

• Classify the workplace into Zones whereapplicable

• Select ATEX 100a products according toZone

• Identify, using warning signs, locationswhere explosive atmospheres may occur.

Conclusion

Directive 99/92/EC introduces specific legalrequirements aimed at protecting workers fromthe potential dangers of explosive atmospheres.Directive 94/9/EC and directive 99/92/EC arecomplimentary. Although they both address thesame risks they are aimed at different sectors.Users and operators will therefore need to ensurethey are fully aware of the new requirements.



ATEX 137





How Sira can help you with DSEAR & ATEX137 Compliance?

Sira provides a range of technical servicesrelating to DSEAR & ATEX 137 Compliance:

A Total Compliance Solution

Sira can offer a complete ATEX 137 & DSEARpackage, helping you achieve and maintaincompliance. From gap-analysis projects, to fullprogrammes of work including risk assessment,area classification and inspection.

Training

Sra can offer public or in-house courses. Thesewill give staff the ability to understand and prepareArea Classifications to various codes of practice.

Consultancy

Sira can provide consultants to undertake thework for you. We will provide a detailed report;complete with marked up site drawings and arationale for how we have arrived at ourconclusions.

Project Management

Sira can project manage a team that includes ourown experts and the client’s staff. This allows acombination of our expertise and project skills withthe customer’s local knowledge and resources, soensuring that future maintenance can be carriedout in-house.

Support

Sira can be somebody to talk to when there is adifficulty, or to come in and give advice on solvinga problem. As safety is involved, many clientsappreciate having an external expert look over the

work and give it their ‘seal of approval’. Often thisservice is provided after a client’s staff haveattended a Sira training course.

Life after the Deadline

Even though the deadline has now passed, itdoes not mean that all the hard work is nowfinished. Far from it! There is now the task tocontinuously monitor and maintain the site,continuously check the appropriateness of thearea classification, and continuously improve thecompetence of your employees and work

practices.

And of course, several sites (including those notyet operational) may still not yet be fullycompliant, meaning the need to achievecompliance is now more important than ever.

If you are not sure of your continuedresponsibilities, contact Sira for guidance.

More Information?

To discuss any issues arising from this document,or for additional information regarding DSEAR &ATEX 137 please contact us:

Tel: + 44 (0) 1244 670 900Email: [email protected] Web: www.siracertification.com

atex 137 datasheet.pdf

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