Introduction to Fire Safety Management

15.17.6 Workplace 
classifi cation and marking – 
regulation 7
Places at the workplace where explosive atmospheres 
may occur must be classifi ed as hazardous or non-haz-
ardous and hazardous places must be classifi ed into 
zones on the basis of the frequency and duration of the 
occurrence of an explosive atmosphere (regulation 7(1) 
and Schedule 2).
Equipment and protective systems in hazardous 
places must comply with the requirements of Schedule 3 
(regulation 7(2)) and, where necessary, hazardous places 
must be marked with signs at their points of entry in 
accordance with Schedule 4 (regulation 7(3)).
15.17.7 Regulation 
10
Containers and pipes used at work for dangerous sub-
stances must, where not already marked, clearly identify 
their contents:
➤
Where necessary, areas classifi ed into zones are 
marked with a specifi ed ‘EX’ sign at their points of 
entry
➤
Where employees work in zoned areas they are pro-
vided with appropriate clothing that does not cre-
ate a risk of an electrostatic discharge igniting the 
explosive atmosphere

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Introduction to Fire Safety Management
376
➤
Before coming into operation for the fi rst time, areas 
where hazardous explosive atmospheres may be 
present are confi rmed as being safe (verifi ed) by a 
person (or organisation) competent in the fi eld of 
explosion protection. The person carrying out the 
verifi cation must be competent to consider the par-
ticular risks at the workplace and the adequacy of 
control and other measures put in place.
15.17.8 Emergency arrangements – regulation 8
Employers are required to make arrangements for deal-
ing with accidents, incidents and emergencies.
The requirements of DSEAR build on existing require-
ments under the Management Regulations. An employer 
will need to supplement those existing arrangements if 
it is assessed that an accident, incident or emergency 
could arise, for example a fi re, or a signifi cant spillage, 
because of the quantity of dangerous substances at the 
workplace. In these circumstances an employer must 
arrange:
➤
Suitable warning (including visual and audible 
alarms) and communication systems
➤
Escape facilities, if required by the risk assessment
➤
Emergency procedures to be followed in the event 
of an emergency
➤
Equipment and clothing for essential personnel 
dealing with the incident and
➤
Practice 
drills.
The scale and nature of the emergency arrangements 
should be proportionate to the level of risk.
Information on emergency procedures should be 
made available to employees and emergency services 
should be contacted to advise them that the information 
is available (and provide the emergency services with 
any information they consider necessary).