CompEx Certification - Food & Beverage Industry
food & beverage manufacturing
Across the food and beverage industry, many processes from milling and grinding to drying, mixing, and packaging can generate combustible dusts and vapours that form explosive atmospheres when dispersed in the air. Flammable ingredients such as flour, sugar, starch, coffee, and grain can all ignite under the right conditions, posing a serious risk to people, property, and production.
CompEx training helps those working in food production and processing environments develop the knowledge and practical skills to recognise these hazards, classify hazardous areas, and manage the risks effectively. This supports ongoing compliance with ATEX and DSEAR regulations, helping organisations safeguard their facilities and maintain safe, efficient operations.
awareness across all scales of production
Larger manufacturers in the food and beverage supply chain often have established procedures for managing explosion risks. However, smaller or craft-based producers may be less aware of how combustible dust or vapour can accumulate and ignite. For both large and small operations, CompEx training and assessment play a vital role in raising awareness and embedding safe working practices across every level of the organisation.
By ensuring that employees from maintenance engineers to production managers are equipped with the right skills and understanding, businesses can reduce the likelihood of incidents and strengthen their overall safety culture.
Distilleries and spirit production
Within the spirits industry, the production of whisky, gin, vodka, and rum involves the handling of flammable liquids and vapours that demand strict control to avoid potential ignition sources. The use of grain neutral spirit (GNS) as a feedstock or blending agent introduces additional hazards, as its chemical properties are similar to automotive fuel components.
During maturation, wooden casks naturally emit flammable vapours, often called the “angel’s share” - which can create explosive atmospheres in bonded warehouses if ventilation is poor or ignition sources are not properly managed.
CompEx courses equip engineers, production staff, and safety managers with the understanding and practical awareness needed to reduce these risks and maintain safe operations across all areas of food and drink manufacture - from bakeries and breweries to distilleries and packaging plants.
REALITY WITHOUT THE RISK
ASET is one of the UK’s leading CompEx-approved training centres, trusted by organisations across high-risk sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, and manufacturing. Our purpose-built CompEx Hazardous Areas Training Centre was the first of its kind in the world and remains a benchmark for practical hazardous area training.
With modern assessment bays for gas, vapour, dust, and mechanical competence, delegates gain hands-on experience that reflects real-world pharmaceutical production environments. This includes working with equipment such as motors, pumps, and control systems commonly found in regulated facilities.
Led by industry-experienced instructors, our training combines technical knowledge with practical competence - ensuring delegates leave confident, compliant, and ready to maintain safety in environments where explosive atmospheres may occur.
Relevant Courses
