Gas test atmospheres

The Australian Well Control Centre’s Nationally Accredited, Gas Test Atmospheres Program is aimed at providing participants with the knowledge and skills to safely negotiate testing an Atmosphere and deeming it safe to enter. The program utilises Electronic Gas Detectors (Microclip X3 Multi Gas Detectors) to identify toxins or low oxygenated environments. This information empowers our candidates to make critical decisions regarding the hazards they have encountered within a space, what risk controls need to be implemented and how to proceed with the work safely.

The Gas Test Atmospheres (GTA) course runs sequentially with our Enter and work in confined spaces Program RIIWHS202E which has been specifically designed for individuals that work across multiple industries. Confined spaces are everywhere, and it is critical that workers know how to test atmospheres and work effectively in confined spaces. Confined spaces are Hazardous and need to be treated with the highest level of safety awareness.

Both of these courses are run weekly, every Tuesday starting at 8am. Combining your GTA course with the Ener and Work in Confined Spaces program for an additional $265 AUD reduces the need for return training on separate days. Having these programs offered sequentially reduces the amount of operational down time for training staff. Getting both of these core units completed on the one day along with receiving the extra bonus units listed below presents great value and is an exclusive product offering brought to you by the Australian Well Control Centre.

Industry best practice under WHS guidelines suggests that testing an atmosphere before entering the confined space to work is critical to maintaining safety standards and most importantly the safety of site personnel.

1. Farming and Agriculture
2. Underground and Open Cut Mining
3. Oil and Gas Operations, Up, Mid and Down Stream Operations
4. Engineering and Plant Maintenance Services
5. Chemical Refineries
6. Fuel Storage and Refining Facilities
7. NBN Work Activities
8. Civil Construction and Maintenance Activities
9. Power Station and any type of Shut Down Work
10. Marine Maintenance Activities

Aubrey Paper Mill Gas Leak (Hydrogen Sulphide) NSW

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/albury-paper-mill-toxic-gas-leak-kills-workers/9798744

Farther and Sons killed in Broken Hill Cellar (Carbon Monoxide) NWS

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-02/broken-hill-deaths-generator-removed/9932650

Three Found Dead in Rainwater Tank (Carbon Monoxide) NSW

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-17/poisonous-gas-detected-in-water-tank-where-three-bodies-found/8279576

Truck Carrying Fertiliser Explosion near Charleville (Ammonium Nitrate) QLD

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-06/ammonium-nitrate-truck-explodes-in-charleville-queensland-8-hurt/5724512

The events above will be discussed in more detail in the AWCC Gas Test Atmospheres program. All workers should be aware that toxic gasses are the silent killers and when tasked to work within these environments, they can be deadly. The Team at AWCC know this all to well with our instructors having a wide range of industry experiences and knowledge that they enthusiastically pass onto students. Knowledge saves lives and having a clear plan regarding how to work and on occasion survive these potentially dangerous situations is the AWCC point of difference.

At the completion of the AWCC Gas Test Atmospheres Program successful candidates will be able to proficiently demonstrate the following skills:

1. Recognise and assess conditions that require testing
2. Demonstrate the identification of the appropriate actions according to procedures while remaining within the scope of responsibility for your role, these will include:
3. Demonstrate the selecting and prepare to use Gas Testing Equipment
4. Effectively demonstrate the competent application of the GTA testing regime
5. Select and use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE)
6. Demonstrate the identification of hazards and applying risk assessment control measures
7. Demonstrate the cleaning and maintenance of GT equipment
8. Record GT Equipment Readings and interpret, report/record relevant data to work team.
9. Demonstrate the application of known solutions to routine problems
10. Communicate clearly and unambiguously with a range of personnel on safety conditions and procedures that relate to the area being tested.

Upon successful completion of the program the candidate will be able to demonstrate the knowledge of Gas Test Atmospheres by:

1. Be able to access organisational procedures, including:
2. Permit to Work Systems
3. Demonstrate knowledge of onsite safety, hazard identification and hazard control through risk assessment
4. Access procedures for incident management, fire control and accident prevention
5. The us of the correct PPE
6. Accessing organisational standard operating procedures (SOP’s)
7. Have knowledge of and how to address common atmospheric hazards and contaminants
8. Demonstrate a general knowledge of an explosive range and have a general understanding of the upper and lower explosive limits
9. Demonstrate a good understanding of exposure limits and standards, this includes measures of time-weighted average, short-term exposure limits, peak limitation values, and the examination of toxic effect at certain levels for a range of flammable gases
10. Understand the conditions under which atmospheres become hazardous
11. Demonstrate an understanding units of measurement used to express concentration of atmospheric contaminants (mg/cubic m. ppm, % v/v).

The gas test atmospheres course covers the following aspects:

• enclosed and partially enclosed spaces
• confine spaces
• hot work
• storage tanks, silos, pits, pipes, shafts, ducts, transport vehicles and ships
• testing as part of issuing a work permit
• monitoring as part of working under a work permit
• open areas
• holding the gas tester by hand
• lowering the gas tester into a space, e.g. on a line.

All AWCC Training courses are conducted by experienced specialists in their given field.

• 4-6 hours of face to face training
• Up to 12 trainees per course
• Students are provided with individualised assistance from being in a small class
• Knowledge on relevant legislation and Australian Standards
• Recommendations and advice for specialised equipment for your workplace
• Plenty of time for hands on training
• Candidates choosing to include the Enter and Work in Confined Spaces in there training GTA on the day will receive the following two (2) units of competency:
  • MSMWHS217 – Gas test atmospheres 
  • RIIWHS202E – Enter and work in confined spaces

Ask us about Group Booking Discounts and Onsite Training at your Location.