Explosion safety document
Explosion protection document
To comply with their obligations under Directive 1999/92/EC employers must ensure that an explosion protection document (EPD) is drawn up and kept up to date. This chapter discusses the content of an EPD that meets the requirements of the Directive and can be used as an aid when drafting. Every EPD should be customized and reflect the situation at the company.
Requirements of the directive
The explosion protection document must provide an overview of the results of the risk assessment and the resulting technical and organizational precautions for an installation and the working environment.
The EPD should be well-structured and easy to read. Therefore, documentation should not become too extensive. The Directive allows for combination of existing risk assessments, documents or reports. The EPD may also refer to other documents. In this way the EPD becomes an overarching document that ensures consistency without the need to copy external documents or information; this helps to avoid redundancy and reduces the risk of errors.
It may be useful for companies that have several installations with hazardous areas to divide the EPD into a general part and a part specific to the various installations. The general part explains the structure of the documentation and gives an overview of the measures that apply to all installations. Think for instance training of employees. The part concerning installations explains the risks and precautionary measures for specific installations.
Classification of the explosion protection document
To meet the requirements of the Directive, the following eight chapters can be included in the EPD:
- Description of the worksite and workplaces
- Description of processes and activities
- Description of the substances used
- Results of the risk assessment
- Explosion protection measures
- Implementation of the measures
- Coordination of measures
- Appendix to the explosion protection document
Explosion protection template
A site is subdivided into workstations. The explosion protection document describes the workplaces where there is a risk of explosive atmospheres. The description includes:
- Name of the company;
- Company manager;
- Number of employees;
- Building / space designation;
- Type of installation;
- Architectural and geographical conditions (floor plan);
- Layout plan of the installation or equipment;
- Overview of escape routes.
Processes and activities
Processes should be described briefly, where possible using flowcharts. The description must contain all data relevant to explosion protection such as:
- Description of processes including commissioning and decommissioning;
- Overview of constructional data;
- Operating data such as temperature, pressure, volume, capacity and speed;
- Overview of operational devices;
- Nature and scope of cleaning activities;
- Data on room ventilation.
Substances used / safety parameters
It is important to describe in detail which substances form the explosive atmosphere and under what conditions during the process it is formed. All technical properties and parameters relevant to explosion safety must be recorded.
Results of the risk assessment
Hazardous areas (zones) must be indicated, preferably in the form of a floor plan (see § 4.2.1). A distinction may be made between the inside of the installation and the surrounding area. Normal operating conditions, commissioning, decommissioning, cleaning and foreseeable operating malfunctions must also be considered.
Furthermore, the explosion risks are shown in this section.
Explosion protection measures
On the basis of the risk assessment, the resulting safety measures are described. The applied safety principle such as 'prevention of active ignition sources' must be mentioned. A classification into technical and organisational measures is the most practical.
Technical measures
- Since the explosion safety concept of the installation is based completely or partially on the precautions taken to prevent explosive atmospheres or sources of ignition, a detailed description of these measures is required;
- If the installation is to be protected against explosion hazards by means of constructional measures, the nature, functionality and installation location of these constructional measure must be described.
Organizational measures
The organizational measures for explosion protection are also described in the explosion protection document. The document must show:
- What operating instructions have been drawn up for a location or an activity;
- How qualification of workers is ensured;
- Content and frequency of training courses (where participation of employees is recorded);
- How the use of mobile work equipment in hazardous areas is regulated;
- How the use of suitable protective clothing is ensured;
- Whether a work permit system exists and how it is organized;
- How maintenance, research and inspection work are organized;
- How hazardous areas are marked.
Forms to record information can be added to the EPD. A list of permitted mobile work equipment should also be added. The level of detail of the list will depend on the type and extent of the work and on the extent to which risks may occur.
Realisation of the measures
The EPD must indicate who is responsible for implementing certain measures. It should be clear who is responsible for drawing up and maintaining the EPD. It must also state when measures are to be taken and how their effectiveness is to be measured.
Coordination of measures
If several companies work at the same location, each employer is responsible for the areas under his control. The employer responsible for the entire site coordinates implementation of explosion protection measures. He describes purpose, measures and the way in which coordination is carried out in his EPD.
Annex to the explosion protection document
For example, in the appendix to the EPD:
- EC type-examination certificates and declarations of conformity;
- Safety data sheets;
- Instructions for use of equipment or work equipment;
- Maintenance plans.
