At Marches we have a healthy respect for the dangers we all face, in fact it’s because we have been doing this for a long time that we have such an appreciation for what we do. It allows us to sleep a little easier at night knowing that we have an understanding of the risks we face, and have made sure our customers are kept safe.

Recent industry issues have been very sobering and it highlights the potential issues associated with AD and sewage treatment. It brings home to everyone the dangers staff face when in contact with waste water and or digestate.

So how do operators know what is safe and what is not? It is by DSEAR (the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002). It sounds strange and to the uninitiated like a bit of a mouth full, but it is vital for keeping us safe. These regulations were put in the place as a part of the UK’s implementation of the European Union-wide ATEX directive. The intention of the regulations is to reduce the risk of a fatality or serious injury resulting from a "dangerous substance" igniting and potentially exploding. Examples of a "dangerous substance", as defined by DSEAR, include gases we face regularly such methane and hydrogen but includes others which we don’t such as grain dust, sawdust and ethanol vapours. It classifies areas that have the potential for dangerous gasses to build up and alerts operator to the risks, so the guys on the ground know the areas that have potentially explosive atmospheres. As a result, method statements and risk assessments for work can be written knowing where explosions might occur.

Now in Marches we specialise in DSEAR and can complete hazardous area risk assessments for any sewage works or AD plant. Keith and his team have years of experience of working with operators to gain a full understanding of the site and its process, to make sure that all risks are identified, not just those directly associated with the biogas system. So, if you are running a large sewage works or a food waste or a farm plant and you want to have some piece of mind that you are aware of the risks, then give Keith a call and he can allow you a more comfortable night’s sleep