On 6 July 1988 a series of explosions ripped through the Piper Alpha oil rig platform in the North Sea. In the space of two hours, 167 men lost their lives. It remains the world’s worst offshore oil disaster.
Since that fateful day, the safety of oil rigs and their workforces has been a top priority. A report into the disaster produced more than 100 recommendations, including that employers shall ensure the competency of their workers. As a result, the CompEx scheme was born to provide high-quality safety training for personnel who are required to work in explosive atmospheres. CompEx has since become the industry standard for the oil & gas and chemical industries to protect both workers and capital assets. Now Endress+Hauser has invested in a CompEx centre, incorporating both classroom and hands-on facilities, to offer this essential training at our base in Manchester.
The new facility has been awarded an accreditation certificate by JTL, the UKAS-accredited company that operates the CompEx scheme. “We’re one of very few process instrument supply centres in the UK with the facilities to offer CompEx training,” said Peter Barlow, Consultant to the Services Process. “It’s so important to ensure your knowledge is underpinned with formal training. Whether you’re an electrician, instrument technician, project or commissioning engineer, if you’re working on electrical equipment unique to explosive atmospheres you must have the necessary training and competence assurance in place. The portfolio of practical assessments and theory examination in the CompEx modules will ensure you’re ready to safely install, inspect and maintain equipment.”
Not having the relevant training is not only potentially dangerous but could also be career limiting, as Peter Barlow explains: “We’ve seen what can happen when people work in potentially hazardous environments without relevant safety knowledge and it’s truly frightening. Because of this you’ll almost certainly be restricted in where you can work in the oil, gas and other associated industries without this certificate.”
The course involves five days of practical work and classroom theory, at the end of which candidates sit an online examination. Successful candidates will be awarded a credit card-style proof of competency, allowing them to work in explosive atmospheres. The certificate remains valid for five years and will need to be renewed prior to the expiry date by attending a two-day refresher course.
With 60 years’ experience in process automation, you can rest assured that Endress+Hauser is a process safety expert. The CompEx scheme is the latest addition to our training portfolio that includes SIL and ATEX courses, all delivered at our state-of-the-art training centre.
For more information please email sales@uk.endress.com or call us on 0161 286 5050