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Hi Guys
One of my engineers has been with a Gas Safe Inspector doing a routine check on his work and competencies for the day. 😥
During the day a subject for discussion which cropped up was the use of trainee engineers working on gas appliances. We currently have a trainee going through his ACS acreditation and we give him experience on working on gas appliances under the strict supervision of one of my fully qualified engineers whom ultimately certifies the work off.
Apparantly, this is not permitted by Gas Safe and my engineer has told instructed to cease this practise immediately. I have not spoken to the Gas Safe Inspector personally as I have been out with a client myself most of the day.
If this is correct, how on earth is a trainee ever going to get the real world experience needed to do the job properley?
In this situation I am not talking about unqualified AND unsupervised engineers. Has anyone else come across this, I would be interested to know.
Regards
Jackal
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
Hi
The last inspection that I had last year i advised that things like hob tops,thermocouple and ignition generators was changed by my son who’s not gas safe registered and part of his routine was to gas sniff anything accessible,If gas was found then the house would be isolated and transco contacted.Advised NO gas pipe or fitting was disturbed ect and he had no problems with this.
He even commented on an inspection he went out to due to gas leak which we had changed the hob top on a few weeks before and agreed that it wouldn’t come into our cover as the parts was only cosmetic.
I dont think there is still any clarification across the board and each inspector has there own view.
BryanRe: Gas Safe Inspector
Hi Jackal,
I’d say there isn’t anything wrong with one of your employees training another! Sounds odd to me…! I’ve just had a scout about & there isn’t anything I can find that’s ‘Definitive’, so if it were me, I’d ‘Ignore’ the Inspector (In a nice way) and ask my local assessment center tomorrow what their criteria is for a Cat 3 CCN1 New applicant. They’ll straighten it out I’m sure.
Ade 🙂
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
Sorry… Just re-read your post and I’m now reading it in a different way!
Ok, he’s correct. To carry out ‘Gas Work’, you have to be qualified & registered. Although your Gas Safe Engineer signs the paperwork, it’s not him doing the work. So technically, your engineer is carrying out work he isn’t allowed to do in peoples homes.
IIRC, Gas Safe will say that you should give practical training to trainees on ‘Rigs’, in a training environment.
I’d still ring your local assessment center and ask though, it may be that you could send him there for half or a day a week to ‘Train’ on the rigs. If not, it’s as you say… “how on earth is a trainee ever going to get the real world experience needed to do the job properly?”
Ade 🙂
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
Back in march I did a “fast track” gas course and I now have to complete a portfolio of work showing me working in set number and types if gas appliances (under the supervision of a gas safe engineer) so is say that gas inspector is being a bit of a jobs worth by the sounds of it…
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
poss same jobsworth we had our engineer got a row for wearing shorts .. dito re info contact local training centre ..
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
r600a wrote:Hi
The last inspection that I had last year i advised that things like hob tops,thermocouple and ignition generators was changed by my son who’s not gas safe registered and part of his routine was to gas sniff anything accessible,If gas was found then the house would be isolated and transco contacted.Advised NO gas pipe or fitting was disturbed ect and he had no problems with this.
Unless there’s a gas safe engineer with him this is quite clearly against gas regulations as no parts classed as safety devices can be swapped by a non gas safe person, both thermocouples and ignition generators are classed as safety devices.On the subject of parts being swapped while a gas safe engineer is present I can’t see how this is against the rules or how the hell would prospective engineers get jobs signed off ?
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
Sorry just re read the original post and no he can’t do that by himself, he would have to have a gas safe engineer with him.
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
Hi,
I asked the question re working on gas appliances and carrying out non gas repairs and was sent T bulletin 043 from gas safe.
The bulletin says its derived from electrical contractors assoc ECA and the HSE and confirms electrical work can be carried out without being registered with gas safe.
This applies to installing or maintaining electrical components of a gas system provided the work does not involve breaking into the gas system or combustion system. This is the best clarification I can find. But technically if your trainee isn’t registered, he cannot work on gas. This may help guys replacing oven elements on dual fuel appliances, but its a bit chicken and egg. Not trained cant register, not registered cant train….Erm…. Thinking about that one….Re: Gas Safe Inspector
Its simple.
Electrical and Gas are separate within an appliance and classed differently, both requiring proof of competence and neither can be worked on without the required level and in the case of Gas registered as such.
Trainees cannot work in clients homes until they have passed assessment, then registered, then they shadow an Engineer.
The course is designed to train peeps from no knowledge to competent without the need to work in peoples home first.
It amazes me how people in our industry still don’t grasp it.
Re: Gas Safe Inspector
lee8 wrote:Its simple.
Electrical and Gas are separate within an appliance and classed differently, both requiring proof of competence and neither can be worked on without the required level and in the case of Gas registered as such.
Trainees cannot work in clients homes until they have passed assessment, then registered, then they shadow an Engineer.
The course is designed to train peeps from no knowledge to competent without the need to work in peoples home first.
It amazes me how people in our industry still don’t grasp it.
It amazes me but I for once Lee8 has posted something I totally agree with ! 😯
I recommend anyone who is training someone on Gas appliances checks with your local assessment centre and Gas Safe Register as to what they can or can’t do, at the end of the day the buck lies with you the Employer.
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