A common question we’re asked is how often a DSEAR Assessment is required. The short answer is that you need one as soon as your site stores or uses dangerous substances above the legal thresholds. These are surprisingly low: just 100 litres of flammable liquids stored indoors, or 1,000 litres stored outdoors in a tank, is enough to trigger the requirement. Gas cylinders also fall under this rule — for example, two cylinders stored together indoors, or four outdoors in a cage, would mean you need a DSEAR Assessment.
Once you’ve had an initial assessment, the next question is how often it should be reviewed. There isn’t a single fixed answer, because it depends on the level of risk at your site. Most businesses should expect an annual review, as there are usually actions that still need to be completed and progress that needs to be checked. If the assessment highlights higher-risk issues, reviews may need to happen more frequently — every three or six months — so that the site can be supported in reducing those risks to an acceptable level.
When the risks have been brought down to a low or medium level, reviews can be stretched out to 12 or even 18 months. Once all actions from the assessment are fully closed off, a three-yearly review is normally considered appropriate.
In practice, the frequency of review comes down to how your site manages its risks. If volumes change, processes are altered, or new substances are introduced, the DSEAR Assessment should be updated straight away. But as a rule of thumb, high-risk sites need more regular reviews, while lower-risk sites can extend the intervals once they’ve demonstrated strong controls are in place.
If you have any questions regarding DSEAR Assessments please let us know and we will give you a comprehensive and objective answer.