DSEAR risk assessments · Sector
DSEAR risk assessments for laboratories
Laboratories use small volumes of many different flammable substances, often in more than one room. The hazard is less about quantity and more about variety: solvents, gases, waste streams and the equipment used around them.
- CharteredAssessments led by a CMIOSH member
- DSEAR assessments onlyNo fire risk work, no training
- Fixed priceAgreed before we attend
- No equipment salesAdvice you can take at face value
What we assess
Where DSEAR applies on a laboratories site
| Area | Substance | Source of release | Typical classification | Typical controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent store | Solvent vapour | Container leaks, decanting | Zone 2 | Flammable storage cabinets, ventilation, quantity limits |
| Fume cupboard bench | Solvent vapour | Open handling | Assessed inside the cupboard | Extraction performance, ignition sources kept out |
| Gas cylinder store | Hydrogen or acetylene | Valves and regulators | Zone 2 | Ventilated storage, leak checks, segregation |
| Waste solvent collection | Solvent vapour | Decanting to waste containers | Zone 2 | Closed containers, earthing, regular collection |
Classification depends on quantities, ventilation and layout. A real report classifies each source on your site.
On site
What we check
- Solvents and gases in use, and their flash points
- Storage cabinets and how much is kept at the bench
- Fume cupboard and extraction performance
- Gas cylinder storage, supply lines and regulators
- Waste solvent collection and disposal routes
Typical clients
Sites we assess in this sector
Laboratories working with highly reactive, pyrophoric or explosive materials, and pilot plants, are outside our scope.
Coverage
Where we survey laboratories sites
We visit sites across England, Wales and Scotland. These are some of the areas we are asked about most often.
Questions
Before you ask for a quote
Do teaching laboratories need a DSEAR assessment?
Yes. Any workplace with flammable substances does. The assessment considers students and visitors as well as staff.
How do you handle many different substances?
We work from the inventory and group substances by behaviour, such as flash point and vapour density, so that the assessment is practical rather than a list of every bottle.
Get a quote
Tell us what you store and where
A quick call or email is enough to confirm scope and price. It helps if you can send:
- Site address and type of business
- Flammable liquids, gases or dusts you use or store, with rough quantities
- Safety data sheets, if you have them
- A simple layout plan or a few photos
Contact DSEAR Specialists
Ferryhill
DL17 8DQ
Response within one working day.