Previously there has been no mandatory obligation to use certified equipment (or even to classify an area as potentially explosive) but under European Directive 1999/92/EC (The protection of workers from potentially explosive atmospheres) it is now mandatory to assess for an explosion risk and to classify the area accordingly. This Directive became law in the UK on July 1st 2003 and is implemented in the UK under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)

Employers obligations under ATEX

The Directive clearly places responsibility on the shoulders of the employer to:

• carry out a risk assessment
• produce hazardous area classification drawings identifying zones
• identify hazardous areas with EX warning signs
• institute a permit to work system
• provide appropriate training in explosion protection and explosive atmospheres
• only use ATEX compliant equipment in zoned areas
• ensure EX equipment is installed and maintained so as to minimise the risk of explosions