Overview
The IFSM-accredited DSEAR Awareness and Risk Assessment Course provides a structured and practical introduction to the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). It is designed for fire risk assessors, health and safety practitioners, facilities managers, and owners or managers of low to medium risk premises who require a clear understanding of when DSEAR applies and how to approach DSEAR risk assessment in a proportionate, defensible manner.
The course bridges the gap between fire risk assessment and DSEAR, focusing on the types of dangerous substances and activities commonly encountered in everyday workplaces, rather than high-hazard or specialist ATEX environments.
Legal Context
DSEAR is a key part of UK health and safety legislation and applies wherever dangerous substances are present that could give rise to fire, explosion, or similar energetic events. This includes many workplaces that would not traditionally consider themselves “high risk”.
The course is aligned with:
- The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
- Relevant Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and HSE guidance
Delegates will gain a clear understanding of:
- When DSEAR applies and when it does not
- The legal duties of employers, dutyholders, and responsible persons
- The relationship between fire risk assessment and DSEAR risk assessment
- The importance of proportionate, risk-based decision making
Course Content and Approach
The course takes a practical, real-world approach, using scenarios typically encountered by fire risk assessors and small to medium organisations. It focuses on understanding the risk, not over-engineering solutions.
Key topics include:
- What constitutes a dangerous substance under DSEAR
- Identification of fire and explosion hazards
- Understanding flammable properties, vapours, mists, and dusts
- Introduction to explosive atmospheres and zoning principles
- Ignition sources and control measures
- Storage, handling, and segregation of dangerous substances
- Risk control using elimination, substitution, engineering, and management measures
- Integration of DSEAR findings into wider fire safety and health & safety management systems
- Understanding competence limits and when specialist advice is required
The emphasis throughout is on low to medium risk environments, such as:
- storage of flammable liquids and aerosols
- gas installations and meter rooms
- plant rooms and workshops
- battery charging areas
- maintenance activities and contractor works
Assessment and Certification
This is not a certificate of attendance.
To achieve certification, delegates must:
- Pass a formal knowledge-based exam, and
- Successfully complete a common DSEAR risk assessment exercise, demonstrating understanding of hazard identification, zoning considerations where appropriate, and suitable control measures.
On successful completion, delegates are awarded an IFSM-accredited certificate, confirming they have successfully completed training and assessment in DSEAR awareness and low–medium risk DSEAR risk assessment.
Scope and Limitations
This course equips delegates to:
- Understand DSEAR requirements
- Contribute to, undertake, or review low to medium risk DSEAR assessments
- Make informed, proportionate decisions in routine workplace environments
It does not qualify delegates to undertake:
- High-hazard or complex ATEX assessments
- Specialist explosive, chemical process, or COMAH-type environments
The course explicitly addresses limitations of role and experience, reinforcing the need to seek specialist input where risks fall outside the intended scope.
Who Should Attend
This course is suitable for:
- Fire Risk Assessors
- Health & Safety professionals
- Facilities and estates managers
- Site and operations managers
- SME owners and dutyholders
- Anyone required to understand or support DSEAR compliance in low to medium risk premises
Why Choose This Course?
- IFSM-accredited
- Exam-based certification (not attendance only)
- Strong focus on real-world, defensible assessments
- Delivered by experienced practitioners
- Clear alignment with UK legislation and HSE guidance
- Emphasis on proportionate and practical risk management