1.1     This Standard supersedes IGEM/IG/1 communication number 1767, which is now obsolete.

1.2    This Standard provides for the application of standards of training for the gas industry under the Health and Safety at Work Act and Regulation 3(1)-(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (GSIUR), as detailed in the supporting Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances; ACoP L56.

1.3     This Standard has been drafted by a Panel appointed by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers’ (IGEM’s) TCC, subsequently approved by that Committee; the Gas Utilisation Committee, the Gas Measurement Committee and the Gas Transmission and Distribution Committee, published by the authority of the Council of IGEM. In addition, approved by the Standard Consultation Forum (SCF) and the Strategic Management Board (SMB) and published by the authority of the SSB.

1.4    This Standard makes use of the terms “shall” and “should” when prescribing requirements:

• the term “shall” prescribes a requirement which, it is intended will be complied with in full and without deviation
• the term “should” prescribes a requirement which, it is intended will be complied with unless, after prior consideration deviation is considered to be acceptable.

1.5    This Standard was published January 2021.

2.1    HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974 (HSWA)

The Act states:

2(1)    It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

3(1)    It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

3(2)    It shall be the duty of every self-employed person who conducts an undertaking of a prescribed description to conduct the undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

The matters to which the duty in Section 2(1) extends include in particular:

2(2)(c) the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.

2.2    THE GAS SAFETY (INSTALLATION AND USE) REGULATIONS 1998 (GSIUR)

There is a requirement in these Regulations for work to be carried out only by competent persons. 

The Regulations state:

3(1)    No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so.

3(2)    The employer of any person carrying out such work for that employer, every other employer and self-employed person who has control to any extent of such work and every employer and self-employed person who has required such work to be carried out at any place of work under his control shall ensure that paragraph (1) above is complied with in relation to such work.

2.3    SAFETY IN THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF GAS SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES; APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE AND GUIDANCE L56; ACOP 3(1) paragraphs 81 and 82 state:
    
81    Gas work should only be undertaken:

(a)    by a person, who has successfully completed an industry-recognised training course followed by assessment of competence. Training that leads to assessment of competence in safe gas work should be recognised by the industry’s standards setting body; or
(b)    in the case of a currently or previously registered person, where they have proved competence through a certification scheme; or
(c)    for those working at premises that fall outside the scope of the Regulations (see regulation 2(4) and associated guidance), by a person who has successfully completed an appropriate full training course followed by assessment of competence.

82    Training should be of a standard to enable a gas engineer to achieve competence in the safe installation, purging, commissioning, testing, servicing, maintenance, repair, disconnection, modification and dismantling of the gas systems, fittings and appliances with which they are working. This should include an adequate knowledge of:
(a)    relevant associated services such as water and electricity; 
(b)    the potential exposure to asbestos; 
(c)    the dangers they may give rise to; 
(d)    the precautions to take.
2.4    Employers of gas engineers are not complying with their duties under sections 2(1), 2(2)(c) and 3(1) of the HSWA or with Regulation 3 of the GSIUR 1998 if the gas engineer is not competent (refer to 2.5 for the definition of competence). Similarly, a self-employed gas engineer will not be complying with their duty under section 3(2) of the HSWA or with Regulation 3 of the 1998 Regulations if they are not competent. An employee or a person working on their own behalf (i.e., undertaking D.I.Y) are not complying with Regulation 3 of the 1998 Regulations if they are not competent.

2.5    Competence is a combination of practical skill, training, knowledge and experience to carry out the job in hand safely, and ensuring the installation is left in a safe condition for use. Knowledge needs to be kept up to date with changes in law, technology and safe working practice (refer to L56 paragraphs 85 and 88).

2.6    Related legislation and guidance is listed by Gas Safe Register on their website www.gassaferegister.co.uk in the Legislative, normative and informative document list (LINDL). The LINDL document can be viewed by logging into an engineer’s online account at https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in/. Guidance on other related legislation may be obtained from HSE at www.hse.gov.uk/gas.