ATEX - Compulsion, Option or Need of the hour?

Let us talk about another misconception which is rooting in the minds of some people.

If my company is not in Europe, why should we perform an ATEX risk assessment? It's not applicable in my country, why should I perform modification to the existing equipment and fittings?

All risk assessments should follow the simple hierarchical ‘Three Rules of ATEX/DSEAR’ approach:

1. Do not have a flammable atmosphere, but if you do...
2. Do not ignite it, but if you do…
3. Do not hurt anyone.

ATEX intentions are simply to provide a coherent focus for controlling risks from:

1. Substances with flammable, explosive and oxidising properties. ATEX also covers Corrosives and compressed gases.
2. Substances which can create potentially explosive atmospheres
3. Controlling work activities involving other substances that could create a fire or an explosion

If you are in a country where ATEX/ DSEAR is not applicable, then you can consider this as a good engineering practice that you are reviewing your plants' operations to establish a Basis of Safety for each and every operation.

Dust Explosion in Equalizer 2 - Have you seen it yet?

I am sure if you are a movie enthusiast, you would have already seen Equalizer 2. 

Did you happen to notice Denzel Washington creating a flammable dust cloud? 

The movie market was too saturated with Gas Explosions, so here comes a new type of explosion. The director took full advantage of the shot inside a bakery.