Proceedings

The aim of this paper is to inform Managers of sewage sludge dryers about their legal
obligations under the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order in England and Wales and
the Fire Safety (Scotland) Act that came into force in October 2006. The paper will go
through the main parts of the legislation, highlighting key areas and requirements. The main
body of the paper will then focus on the principal tasks required one of which will be to
undertake a fire risk assessment. The key steps required in a fire risk assessment will be
discussed in detail along with the roles of the ‘Responsible’ and ‘Competent’ persons.
Emphasis will be given to the specific fire hazards that may be encountered with processing,
handling, storing and transporting sewage sludge during thermal drying.

A key area that will be discussed will be the potential conflicts and overlap with the existing
DSEAR legislation, that applies to many wastewater sites, and the HSE guidance on sewage
sludge dryers.

KEY WORDS
Competent Person, Dryers, DSEAR, Dust, Emergency Plan, Fire, Ignition, Responsible
Person, Risk Assessment, RRFSO, Self-heating, Sewage sludge, Spontaneous combustion,
Waste, Water.