Competency of personnel working in hazardous areas can be certified internationally for the first time

Phil Black - PII Editor 26/07/2010

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Geneva, Switzerland, 2010-07-22 – On 15 July 2010, IECEx* issued the world’s first IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competency to a person located in the UK. This personal and non-transmittable certificate provides independent proof to any potential employer that this person has the required competency (comprising qualifications and experience) to conduct work in or associated with hazardous areas, which may include area classification, installation, inspection and repair.

This not only provides a clear competitive advantage to people who work in this field, but for the very first time, gives companies a tool to ensure that workers, including contractors, have the competency to work and apply the important Safety Standards associated with explosive environments. This need was repeatedly expressed by the oil and gas industry, one of the Ex industry sectors set to benefit from this new type of certification.
Safety in hazardous areas is non-negotiable. When equipment is not installed, maintained, inspected or repaired according to strict Ex standards by competent persons, the outcome can be devastating. What may be tolerable in non-explosive atmospheres can directly lead to explosions that not only destroy property but can cost human lives or cause severe injuries.

Intuitively, one assumes that danger lurks only in obvious industries, such as chemical, mining, oil and gas. This assumption is wrong. Industries with some of the highest explosive risks include sugar refineries, grain handling and storage silos, as well as wood and metal saw mills among others.
While certification programmes for personnel already exist in a number of industries, in particular in the service sectors, – including healthcare for example – international certification of personnel competency is a first for the Ex (explosive) related industries.

To obtain an IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competency, the candidate will have to undergo a series of knowledge tests and an assessment of qualifications and experience. The IECEx Certification of Personnel Competencies Scheme uses several criteria to establish a person’s level of competence when working in Ex industries. The person under assessment must be able to demonstrate competence to perform tasks, as defined in the scope of their IECEx Certificate, such as:

apply basic principles of protection
perform classification of hazardous areas
design electrical installations
install explosion-protected equipment and wiring systems
test, maintain, overhaul and repair explosion-protected equipment
perform visual, close or detailed inspection of electrical installations
perform audit inspection of electrical installations

Regular re-assessment ensures that the certified person maintains these competencies. The certificate is personal and non-transmittable, and valid across international borders. It can be obtained through an approved IECEx Certification Body. Further information on www.iecex.com.

The world’s first IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competency was issued by SIRA Certification in the United Kingdom. SIRA has been recognized as an approved IECEx Personnel Competency Certification Body (ExCB) in July 2010.
To date, one other ExCB, Baseefa, has been approved to issue certificates under the IECEx Certification of Personnel Competencies Scheme. Both SIRA and Baseefa are world leaders in conformity assessment solutions, specializing in the safety of equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. In the coming months, several more ExCBs are expected to be recognized as approved IECEx Personnel Competency Certification Bodies.