Explosion safety regulations in Poland and the European Union

Since 2014, there have been significant changes to explosion safety regulations in Poland and the European Union to improve protection against the dangers of explosive atmospheres. Here are the most important of these:

Regulatory developments

1. Introduction of the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU: This directive replaced the earlier 94/9/EC, introducing more detailed requirements for the design and manufacture of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The new legislation places greater emphasis on risk assessment and certification of equipment1.
2. Harmonisation of national regulations: In Poland, national regulations have been aligned with EU standards, which has facilitated the exchange of goods and ensured consistency in explosion safety legislation1.
3. Strengthening documentation requirements: Employers are required to keep accurate records of their explosion risk assessments and to update these records regularly as processes change or as new information about hazards becomes available1.

New approaches to risk assessment

1. Dedicated System for Explosion Safety (DSBW): A comprehensive approach to explosion protection has been introduced, which includes the identification of hazards, the selection of appropriate safeguards and the implementation of systems to limit the effects of an explosion. DSBW aims not only to prevent explosions, but also to minimise their effects1.
2. Hazard zone assessment: The regulations for the classification of explosion danger zones have been clarified. The zones are now defined in more detail based on the frequency of occurrence of explosive atmospheres (e.g. zones 20, 21, 22) and the characteristics of the technological processes1.

Increasing the responsibility of employers

1. Safeguarding obligations: Employers must not only identify hazard zones, but also provide adequate safeguards for equipment operating in these zones. This includes both the selection of ATEX-compliant equipment and the implementation of explosion protection systems1.
2. Collaboration with external companies: Facility owners are encouraged to work with explosion safety experts to better tailor safeguards to their specific facility1.

Education and awareness

1. Training for workers: There has been an increased need for training for workers on hazard recognition and procedures to deal with explosive atmospheres. This training is key to ensuring safety in the workplace1.

These changes are aimed at increasing safety in industrial plants and minimising the risk of explosions caused by the presence of dust and other combustible substances.