Safety in explosive atmospheres
A Directive laying down the minimum requirements for improving health and safety protection for workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres has now entered into force, following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The Directive, adopted by Parliament and Council in December 1999 calls on employers to: 'Take technical and/or organisational measures appropriate to the nature of the operation, in order of priority and in accordance with the following basic principles: - The prevention of the formation of explosive atmospheres, or where the nature of the activity does not allow that, - The avoidance of the ignition of explosive atmospheres, and - The mitigation of the detrimental effects of an explosion so as to ensure the health and safety of workers'. These measures will whenever necessary be combined with and/or supplemented with measures against the propagation of explosives and shall be regularly reviewed, particularly whenever 'significant changes occur'.