Training courses
Gas hazards & gas detection training courses
Over the past 17 years JMS Consultants has provided
on-site training courses and other engineering services involving gas
hazards and gas detection to 24 exploration and production oil and gas
companies,
5 electricity power generators, 2 HM naval dockyards, petrochemical and
shipping companies, tank cleaning and vessel inspection companies.
PDFs require Adobe Reader - free download here.
About
the Courses
OPITO/COGENT APPROVED [PDF
12KB] training courses provide the underpinning knowledge and competence
assessment
for Authorised Gas Testers who are
involved in one or more of the following duties:
A: Hot
Work Gas Testing - OPITO Unit AGT2
B: Confined
Spaces/Vessel Entry Gas Testing - OPITO Unit AGT1
C: Inerting and Purging Operations
D: Sour Gas (Hydrogen Sulphide)
Operations
Oil,
Gas, Power, Petrochemical, Construction + many other Industries
A: Hot
Work Gas Testing: to make sure that flammable
gases are not present at the worksite prior to the issue and for the duration
of a hot-work permit.
B: Confined
Spaces/Vessel Entry Gas Testing: is a more
complex task and has included within its syllabus:
- The full content of Course (A)
- Details of the hazards and detection of oxygen deficiency and enrichment
- Details about the wide and varied hazards and detection of toxic gases, crude oil and other sludge vapours.
- Current legislation applicable to confined spaces, e.g. COSHH, EH40, Factories Act, HSWA and the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 Each training course is tailored to suit your own specific hazards, practices and gas detectors
For
Sour Gas (hydrogen sulphide) Contaminated Plant
D:
Sour Gas (Hydrogen Sulphide)
Operations: finds application not
only in the oil and gas industry but also in marine and other water-based
environments, including underground plant, where sewage or entrapped waste
water can quickly become stagnant and give rise to a serious H2S hazard
through microbiological action
For
the FPSO, Shipping and Tanker Industries
C:
Inerting
and Purging Operations:
in
addition to Courses (A), (B) and (D), this Course finds widespread application
as a basis for safe working in those industries where inert gas purging,
using either nitrogen or scrubbed flue gases, becomes the only practical
way to prevent flammable or explosive gas atmospheres being created
during
loading and unloading operations. Inerting also finds widespread application
during routine maintenance of vessels and pipelines. Without a doubt,
purge
gas testing is the most misunderstood type of gas testing I encounter!
The theory of purging of Natural Gas filled vessels and pipework is covered
in Course B but a separate 1-day purging course is available, which includes
a practical purging exercise.
For
Electricity Generators
B: Confined
Spaces/Vessel Entry Gas Testing: Within the power generation
industry, whether from gas, coal, water or biomass, confined space entry
gas testing often takes precedence over hot-work gas testing, where
carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, chlorine, hydrazine and hydrogen sulphide
(from stagnant water) are probably the main sources of the toxic gas
hazard.
The training courses have 4 main components:
Part 1 is the underpinning knowledge, an explanation of the essential rules of gas hazards, gas detection and gas testing/purging both in theory and practice, with which any competent Gas Tester must be well versed
Part 2 is one or more written multiple-choice-question assessment test(s) (as appropriate to the chosen course) with agreed pass-marks, to assess and confirm an understanding of Part 1. Please be aware that some Candidates will fail these tests and further training is often needed
Part 3 focuses on the practical aspects of using your particular portable gas detectors and includes pre-issue mechanical and electrical examination and confirming correct response with a suitable Standard Test Gas together with the practical techniques of using gas detectors in hot work, vessel entry and purging applications - the 'thinking' processes of gas testing - what you actually do! Practical experience will be obtained in accessing such features as 'auto-zero' and 'peak hold'. The final section of this part is explaining the Assessment Criteria that will be used to assess Candidate competence 'in the workplace' - Part 4 of the course
Part 4 is undertaken on-site where a D32/D33 qualified skills assessor determines the competence of the Candidate in Gas Testing by a combination of direct observation, questioning, simulation and inspection of documents
For each course and candidate attending the COGENT/OPITO AGT 1 and 2 Courses, a 60-70 page course manual covering the syllabus is provided and a named, signed and numbered COGENT/OPITO Certificate of Competence is prepared for each Candidate who attends the full course and demonstrates competence both in the underpinning knowledge and the practical skills of gas testing.
The Certificate is dispatched to the course organiser within two weeks of course completion and COGENT/OPITO registration on the Central Register is actioned, if this is required
Note: The nitrogen purging course is not yet included within the COGENT/OPITO group of National Occupational Standards
Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Course, ideally to small groups, are presented in any convenient training room ranging from an office to a cinema and are supported by approximately 80 projected colour PowerPoint slides
Part 4 - the competency assessment is undertaken in the workplace and requires access to live plant (or a realistic simulator) representative of the type of gas testing being studied, together with an adequate number of each type of gas detector and their associated aspirating fitments that are used on site
The duration of the courses depends on agreed content but is typically:
- Hot work Gas Testing - - - - - - - 1 day onshore
- Hot work and Vessel Entry - - - - 2 days onshore
- Inerting and Purging Operations - - - theory incorporated within Course (b) or 1-day course
- Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness - - - - ½ to 2 days depending on the agreed syllabus
- The Combined COGENT/OPITO AGT1 Course comprising Courses (a) and (b) including several appropriate videos is currently the most popular incorporating all the elements above - - a busy 2 days when onshore
About COGENT/O.P.I.T.O.
COGENT/OPITO, the Sector Skills Council for the oil and gas extraction industry, chemicals manufacturing and petroleum industries is a tripartite body with Board Members nominated by the UK Offshore Operators Association, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, the Offshore Contractors Association, the Inter Union Offshore Oil Committee and academia together with advisers from the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Education and Employment.
COGENT/OPITO has joint awarding body agreements with SQA and City & Guilds for awards in the UK and with Edexcel for awards internationally
OPITO/COGENT maintains a database - The Central Register - on which details of a candidates training and competence is recorded. Following the registration of any Unit of Competence, a 'personnel record' is generated which is then passed to the candidate. The 'personnel record' shows the candidate's name, date of birth, unique ID number and lists their training and competence achievements. Training details summarise courses attended, certificate issue and expiry dates. Unit AGT1 and 2 based certificates remain valid for 3 years, thereafter a refresher course becomes necessary.
