Torben Jespen received his Master of Science degree in Chemical
Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and holds a
Bachelor’s degree in International Trade from Copenhagen Business School (CBS).
He spent 5 years as an Assistant Professor at the DTU’s
Institute of Chemical Industry – teaching chemical process and reaction
engineering – and 25 years in different positions at the Confederation of
Danish Employers, where he provided assistance to Member Organizations and
Companies concerning occupational health and safety matters, especially with
aspects related to EU legislation.
Torben has over 9 years’ experience as a Technical Adviser at a
globally operating Danish engineering company and industrial plant equipment
supplier company, and in the course of his 20 years as an advisory expert to
the European Commission regarding Product and Workplace health and safety
legislation, he served as the chairman of several advisory groups.
He has also held the vice-chair and employer spokesperson
positions at the European Agency on Occupational Safety and Health (European
OSHA) in Bilbao, Spain, and has been actively involved in several ILO
activities, including the elaboration of Conventions, Recommendations and
Guidelines, such as those on “occupational safety and health management
systems”.
This book details how safety (i.e. the absence of unacceptable
risks) is ensured in areas where potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) can
arise. The book also offers readers essential information on how to comply with
the newest (April 2016) EU legislation when the presence of ATEX cannot be
avoided.
By presenting general guidance on issues arising out of the EU
ATEX legislation – especially on zone classification, explosion risk assessment,
equipment categorization, Ex-marking and related technical/chemical aspects –
the book provides equipment manufacturers, responsible employers, and others
with the essential knowledge they need to be able to understand the different –
and often complicated – aspects of ATEX and to implement the necessary safety
precautions. As such, it represents a valuable resource for all those concerned
with maintaining high levels of safety in ATEX environments.