Authorised Gas Tester course (AGT)

Course Content:

• Provide awareness of when and why gas testing is required, i.e. for confined spaces and for hot work. 
• Provide knowledge on use of gas testing equipment. 
• Provide knowledge of how to conduct, interpret and document gas testing in confined spaces and for hot work. 

Course Overview

• Narcotic effects of hydrocarbons. 
• Testing in confined spaces, covering confined space criteria 
• Testing for hot work, covering hot work criteria; the type of production operation being tested for flammable and toxic gases; the principles of hot work gas testing as applied to the work area; the hazards and properties of flammable gases; carrying out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment before testing Activities; using safe systems of work including PTW procedures; and using observers to raise the alarm and initiate emergency response. 
• Use of atmosphere / gas measuring and monitoring equipment, covering how to access and interpret the relevant operational instructions; the operating principles of atmosphere monitoring and measuring equipment and frequently observed failure modes; the strengths and weaknesses of the various types of atmospheric flammable and toxic gas detection equipment  
• Gas testing in confined spaces, covering the hazards and properties of flammable and toxic gases including oxygen deficiency and enrichment, nitrogen and specialist materials appropriate to the location; the behaviour of different gases after the initial entry; where to site ongoing monitoring equipment for vessel entry. 
• Gas testing for hot work, covering the different types of detectors used for the flammable product; how to set up the relevant detector for each gas testing application and confirm its correct functioning;  
• Interpreting and documenting the results of a gas test, covering how to interpret the results, to include both normal and abnormal; how to document the results and advise relevant personnel. 

Who Should Attend?

PDO & contractor personnel designated as Authorised Gas Testers 

Pre- Requisites

• (ORT) HSE Orientation 
• H2S 
• SCBA 

Assessment

1. When given the names of three different hydrocarbons, correctly explain their narcotic effects. 
2. Correctly explain: • The implications of applicable PDO procedures; • The hazards of operations within an oxygen deficient, toxic or flammable environment; • What the confined space criteria are; • The behavior of different flammable and toxic gases including H2S, SO2, CO, CO2, and alkanes that are normally vapor at ambient conditions; • The acceptable levels of another flammable and toxic gases including H2S, SO2, CO, CO2, and alkanes that are normally vapor at ambient conditions; • The operating principles of atmosphere monitoring and measuring equipment; 
3. The pre-start – correctly explain • How you would correctly calibrate atmosphere monitoring and measuring equipment; • How to set up the relevant detector for each gas testing application; 
4. The range and frequency of tests – correctly explain: • How a representative atmosphere sample should be obtained; • How to specify continuous monitoring or retesting frequency; • Given an operational scenario, where you would site ongoing monitoring equipment; • What ‘hot work’ means; • The hazards associated with it in relation to the production of flammable and toxic gases; • The hazards and properties of flammable gases; • The principles of hot work gas testing; • The strengths and weaknesses of flammable and toxic gas detection equipment. 
5. At an actual or simulated operational workplace for confined space entry: • Carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment after interpreting operational requirements