DSEAR Gas and Liquid Explosion Risk Assessment for Duty Holders (E-learning)

Flammable gases and vapours from liquids can create explosive atmospheres during everyday work — solvent transfer, drum filling, storage, cleaning and maintenance. A small release can become serious if it reaches the right concentration and meets an ignition source.

The weak point is often not the absence of a risk assessment but the quality of the decisions behind it. This IIRSM-approved course gives duty holders a structured framework for identifying dangerous substances, evaluating release and ignition scenarios, selecting suitable controls, and recognising when specialist input is needed. Approximately two hours of fully online training with same-day digital certification.

Who is this course for?

Anyone with legal or operational responsibility for managing flammable gas and vapour explosion risk under DSEAR, particularly where solvent handling, gas storage, flammable liquid transfer and hazardous area classification create significant compliance responsibilities:

• Site managers and operations managers
• Health and safety managers and advisers
• Compliance officers and EHS leads
• Facilities engineers and maintenance managers
• Process and production managers
• DSEAR duty holders and responsible persons

Course content

Module 1 — Introduction to DSEAR
What DSEAR requires and how it fits within the wider UK framework for managing fire and explosion risk from flammable gases and vapour released from flammable liquids. Covers DSEAR structure and guidance, UK legislation and the European legal background.

Module 2 — DSEAR Risk Assessment Overview
The purpose and scope of a DSEAR assessment for gas and liquid hazards, how explosive atmospheres form — examined through the Buncefield incident — and what the science behind vapour cloud explosions means for assessment in practice.

Module 3 — DSEAR Risk Controls and Zoning
The full hierarchy of control: choosing controls, substitution, engineering controls, hazardous area classification for gas and liquid risks and how it works in practice, equipment categories, selection principles, ratings and labelling, emergency preparedness and PPE.

Module 4 — Controlling Explosive Gas and Vapour: Case Study
The full assessment process worked through a practical workplace example, from hazard identification and risk evaluation to control selection, review and recording findings.

What learners will be able to do

• Understand DSEAR requirements where flammable gases and vapours create fire or explosion risk
• Recognise how explosive atmospheres form, including how flash point, LEL and vapour density affect risk
• Identify the dangerous substances, release points and ignition sources a robust assessment must consider
• Use gas and vapour data — flash point, LEL, UEL, AIT and MIE — to judge hazard severity and support proportionate control decisions
• Apply the DSEAR hierarchy of control and identify which measures matter most in practice
• Understand how hazardous area classification is carried out, how zones are defined and how equipment selection is matched to zone requirements
• Structure, evaluate and document an assessment under Regulation 5 so key decisions are clear and justifiable
• Recognise when an assessment can be managed in-house and when specialist support is required

The training also supports alignment of DSEAR assessments with wider duties under health and safety, fire safety, COSHH, PUWER and chemical safety legislation.

Certification

Approved by the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM). Learners complete a fully online multiple-choice assessment, with 80% required to pass. An IIRSM-approved digital certificate is available to download immediately on completion and is valid for three years.

Frequently asked questions

Is this suitable for general staff?
No. This is a duty-holder level course. General awareness training is more appropriate for staff who work in or near hazardous areas but do not assess risk.

Does this cover combustible dust?
No. This course addresses flammable gases, vapours and liquids. Dust explosion risk is covered by separate training.

Does completing this course make me competent?
No. The course provides knowledge and supporting guidance. Completion does not by itself confirm competence, qualification or authorisation for workplace tasks — employers must assess competence against the role, task and workplace arrangements. It does not appoint the learner to a duty holder, responsible person or competent person role.

What equipment do I need?
Any internet-connected device. Available on desktop, tablet and mobile, with iOS and Android apps and subtitles in over 20 languages.

For short courses a completion certificate is available at the end of the course. You can screenshot this or print it out to confirm completion of the training.

For accredited courses a certificate will be sent directly to you from the appropriate awarding body.

All you need to complete our e-learning courses is a computer, tablet or smartphone and an internet connection.

E-learning is flexible, efficient, and cost-effective, meaning you can progress through the modules at your own pace, at your own time to fit the training in around your work and personal life.

Short online courses also help employers to demonstrate that they have fulfilled their legal duties to ensure their personnel have been adequately trained.

Once the courses have been completed, a confirmation of results can be saved or printed as evidence. This can then be kept on record as evidence of suitable training.

• Learning management system that delivers training on laptop, PC or mobile app
• Automatically track all learning via online competency matrix
• Combine all records in one place – upload offline certificates
• Share training records via QR code training passport

You will instantly receive a confirmation email with your order details and your course login details will follow within one business working day.

Please note that course bookings can not be processed outside of normal working hours, over weekends or on bank holidays and will be processed the next business working day.

Step 1

Click the 'Buy' or 'Add to cart' button and you will be taken to our payment/booking page where you can choose to pay online now using a debit/credit card or you can pay later by invoice.

Step 2

Once you have paid for your course(s), you will receive an email from our team advising how to begin your training.

Step 3

You will be provided with a username and password which will enable you to access the e-learning portal. Login to start your course, once you have completed and passed the course, you will be able to download and print your certificate straight away.

Human Focus is a global leader in skilled behaviour change in the workplace.

We assist clients in achieving world-class business performance by helping to build skills and change habits that keep workers safer, healthier and more productive.

We were founded in 1992 and have grown over our 30 years of service to form close working partnerships with leading health and safety organisations, insurance companies and trade associations.

Our e-learning system supports subtitles in multiple languages for all courses. After starting any training module, learners can choose their preferred language for the course. Subtitles in any other language can also be added upon request.

Envico is working in association with Human Focus offering e-learning and is not accredited by or associated with any examination bodies, awarding bodies, institutions or organisations in any way whatsoever.