How often should I review a DSEAR assessment?

There is no prescribed frequency at which a DSEAR assessment should be updated - the regulations state that it should be reviewed ‘regularly’.

A DSEAR assessment should be reviewed whenever there is a change to the process - such as the materials being used, process conditions, or equipment. This review could be a simple check which verifies that no new hazards have been introduced (e.g. when changing supplier of a material or feedstock), or a more detailed review when a major process modification is carries out.

If there are no major changes, then we recommend the DSEAR assessment is reviewed every 3-5 years to capture any creeping changes.

A DSEAR assessment should also be reviewed if there has been an incident or a near-miss in your workplace to make sure that the process hazards have been accurately captured, and that any additional safeguard requirements are highlighted and actioned to prevent the event happening again.