Health & Safety Training

DSEAR Training Course

A one-day, in-company course on the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations: what DSEAR requires, how to classify hazardous-area zones, and the actions to take for compliance.

1 day · at your site In-company UK-wide Certificate of attendance Managers, engineers, H&S staff
Key facts at a glance
1 day
Course lengthdelivered at your premises
DSEAR 2002
The regulationsDangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres
Zoning
A core skillclassifying hazardous-area zones
Hands-on
Includespractical zone-identification exercises
The course
Quick answer

What is DSEAR training?

DSEAR training explains the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002: the dangerous substances they cover, the employer duties, and how to classify the hazardous-area zones where a flammable or explosive atmosphere could form. KeyOstas delivers it as a one-day in-company course with practical exercises.

Covers the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
Teaches how to classify hazardous-area zones
Includes practical zone-identification exercises
Certificate of attendance for every delegate
Where a workplace stores or uses flammable liquids, gases, vapours or combustible dusts, an explosive atmosphere can form. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, known as DSEAR, require employers to assess that risk, control it, and classify the areas where an explosive atmosphere could occur into hazardous-area zones. This course explains what DSEAR requires and builds the practical skill of identifying and zoning those areas, so the right precautions and the right equipment can be put in place.
DSEAR 2002
the regulations the course covers
Zones
hazardous areas, classified by risk
1 day
including practical exercises
Is it right for you

Is DSEAR training right for your team?

It is for the people who manage workplaces where flammable or explosive atmospheres can form.

Right for you if…

Your workplace stores or uses flammable liquids, gases or combustible dusts
You need managers or engineers who understand DSEAR duties
You are responsible for hazardous-area classification or zoning
You need to specify equipment suitable for explosive atmospheres
You handle highly flammable liquids or LPG on site

A different course fits better if…

Your workplace has no dangerous substances or explosive-atmosphere risk
You only need general fire training: see Fire Awareness or Fire Risk Assessment
You want a regulated, accredited qualification: this is a certificate of attendance
After the course

What you will be able to do

By the end of the day, every delegate will be able to do the following.

Understand DSEAR

State the requirements

State what the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 require of an employer.

Identify dangerous substances

Identify the dangerous substances DSEAR covers, including flammable liquids, gases, vapours and dusts.

Understand the duties

Outline the duties to assess, eliminate or reduce, and control the risk from explosive atmospheres.

Know the zones

State the definitions of the hazardous-area zones used to classify explosive-atmosphere risk.

Apply it

Classify gas and vapour zones

Identify and classify hazardous-area zones for flammable gases and vapours.

Classify dust zones

Identify and classify hazardous-area zones for combustible dusts.

Zone HFL and LPG storage

Identify the zones around the storage of highly flammable liquids and LPG, in line with HSE guidance.

Select suitable equipment

Identify equipment suitable for use within a classified hazardous-area zone.

Course content

What the course covers

One day, building from the regulations to hands-on zone classification.

01

DSEAR & dangerous substances

  • An introduction to DSEAR and the background to it
  • An overview of the DSEAR Regulations 2002
  • The dangerous substances DSEAR covers
  • A DSEAR exercise
02

The employer duties

  • Assessing the risk from dangerous substances
  • Eliminating or reducing the risk
  • Control and mitigation measures
03

Hazardous-area zones

  • Identifying flammable atmosphere zones
  • Zones for vapours, and a vapour zone exercise
  • Zones for combustible dusts, and a dust zone exercise
  • Zoning the storage of highly flammable liquids and LPG, with an exercise
04

Equipment in zones

  • Selecting electrical and other equipment for hazardous-area zones
  • Matching equipment to the zone it will be used in
Assessment

How the course is assessed and certificated

Practical and applied, with hands-on zoning exercises.

Format

Instructor-led, in-company

A KeyOstas tutor delivers the day at your premises, and your own substances and areas can be used.

Assessment

Practical zone exercises

Delegates work through zone-identification exercises for vapours, dusts and flammable storage rather than sitting a written exam.

Certificate

Certificate of attendance

Every delegate receives a KeyOstas certificate of attendance on completion.

Delivered in-company, the course can be built around the dangerous substances and areas in your own workplace, so the zoning exercises reflect your real site.
Why KeyOstas

Why train with KeyOstas

Four decades of practical, in-company health & safety training.

01

Delivered at your site

We come to you, anywhere in the UK, and train your team around your working pattern.

02

Built around your site

The zoning exercises can use the dangerous substances and areas in your own workplace.

03

Practical, not just theory

Delegates work through real zone-identification exercises for vapours, dusts and flammable storage.

04

Specialists since 1984

Four decades of training UK workforces with practical instruction, not generic e-learning.

FAQ

DSEAR training: frequently asked questions

What does DSEAR stand for?
DSEAR is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. They require employers to control the risk from substances that can cause fires, explosions and similar energetic events.
How long is the course?
One day, delivered in-company at your premises.
Who should attend?
Managers, engineers, health & safety staff and anyone responsible for workplaces where flammable liquids, gases, vapours or combustible dusts are stored or used.
What are hazardous-area zones?
They are a way of classifying areas by how likely a flammable or explosive atmosphere is to occur. Zoning then determines the precautions and the type of equipment needed in each area, and the course teaches how to identify and classify them.
Does the course cover combustible dust?
Yes. The course covers identifying and zoning explosive-atmosphere risk for combustible dusts as well as for flammable gases and vapours.
Is DSEAR training a legal requirement?
DSEAR itself is the legal requirement. Employers must assess and control the risk from dangerous substances, and the people doing that need to understand the regulations. This course gives them that understanding.
Will the course use our own substances and areas?
Yes. Delivered in-company, the zoning exercises can be built around the dangerous substances and areas in your own workplace.
Is this an accredited qualification?
It is a KeyOstas course with a certificate of attendance: practical training rather than a regulated qualification.

Train your team on DSEAR

Tell us about the dangerous substances on your site and how many people you would like to train, and we will put together a quote for the one-day course.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Checked against current UK health & safety legislation and HSE guidance.