Training for competence in hazardous area equipment maintenance

Area classification is an essential activity to prevent the ignition of an explosive gas atmosphere by apparatus as its physical condition and performance tend to deteriorate due to age, environmental attack and constant use. In particular, National Standards and Codes of Practice require that the personnel who undertake these tasks are competent to do so by virtue of the training they have received. The author shows the the response to the need for trained personnel has encouraged the active support of an initiative in the UK to establish a nationally recognised training certificate for personnel who work on electrical and instrumentation equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres