IEC TS 60079-44:2023
(Main)Explosive atmospheres - Part 44: Personal competence
Explosive atmospheres - Part 44: Personal competence
IEC TS 60079-44:2023, which is a Technical Specification, is to provide guidance to establish recommended minimum criteria to determine roles, establish expectations of the necessary skills and evidence of competence to assess and manage the competence of personnel conducting work in or associated with hazardous areas. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to establish:
• recommended minimum criteria to determine roles,
• expectations of the necessary skills, and
• evidence of competence
in order to assess and manage the competence of personnel who are conducting work in or associated with hazardous areas.
This document provides examples and recommendations of minimum levels of competence for typical roles associated with hazardous areas by addressing the knowledge, skills, or abilities that is expected of personnel. Additionally, examples of the evidence of competence expected for each role are provided.
The aim of tThis document is to assist in defining, assessing, and managing unique requirements for the competence of individuals working in or associated with installations where an explosive atmosphere could be present. Such a programme could be specific to a facility or used in conjunction with other regulatory requirements where they exist. The competencies for conducting work in a hazardous area are in addition to any competencies which may apply for the general type of work being undertaken (for example, professional credentials, electrical, non-electrical, operations, design).
This document applies to both electrical and non-electrical applications.
This document identifies the minimum level of knowledge and skills required to work in hazardous areas and the specific competence required for work associated with equipment for explosive atmospheres (commonly termed ‘Ex Equipment’) and the standards to which competence is to be assessed and attributed.
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to establish:
• recommended minimum criteria to determine roles,
• expectations of the necessary skills, and
• evidence of competence
The principal application of this specification document is for personnel dealing with explosion-protected and associated equipment for use in explosive atmospheres, including the following work functions:
• Classification of areas;
• Producing, processing or servicing functions in a hazardous area and not directly involved in installing, maintaining or repairing explosion-protected equipment and systems;
• Designing, commissioning and maintaining explosion-protection strategies and equipment;
• Selecting, installing, testing and maintaining explosion-protected equipment and systems in hazardous areas;
• Inspecting hazardous area equipment, systems and installations;
• Overhauling, repairing and modifying explosion-protected equipment;
• Management of the Ex aspects of the facility.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
IEC TS 60079-44 ®
Edition 1.0 2023-11
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 44: Personal competence
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IEC TS 60079-44 ®
Edition 1.0 2023-11
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 44: Personal competence
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.260.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-7894-9
– 2 – IEC TS 60079-44:2023 © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 General . 10
5 Typical evidence of competence . 11
5.1 General . 11
5.2 Prerequisite qualifications . 11
5.3 Recommendations for the verification of Ex competence . 11
6 Task competency expectations . 12
7 Party legally responsible for a facility . 12
7.1 General . 12
7.2 Internal quality audit of competency management system associated with
hazardous areas . 12
7.2.1 General . 12
7.2.2 Examples of typical auditing tasks . 12
7.2.3 Examples of evidence of competence . 13
8 Roles associated with hazardous areas where competence should be verified . 13
8.1 General . 13
8.2 Area classification . 13
8.2.1 General . 13
8.2.2 Examples of area classification tasks. 14
8.2.3 Examples of evidence of area classification competence . 14
8.3 Design of systems or installations for hazardous areas . 14
8.3.1 General . 14
8.3.2 Examples of typical design tasks . 15
8.3.3 Examples of evidence of design competence . 15
8.4 Installation . 15
8.4.1 General . 15
8.4.2 Examples of typical installation tasks . 15
8.4.3 Examples of evidence of installation competence . 16
8.5 Maintenance . 16
8.5.1 General . 16
8.5.2 Examples of typical maintenance tasks . 16
8.5.3 Examples of evidence of maintenance competence . 17
8.6 Overhaul and repair activities by service facilities . 18
8.6.1 General . 18
8.6.2 Examples of typical overhaul and repair tasks –Responsible Person for
overhaul and repair . 18
8.6.3 Examples of evidence of overhaul and repair competence –
Responsible person for overhaul and repair . 18
8.6.4 Examples of typical overhaul and repair tasks – Repair operator . 19
8.6.5 Examples of evidence of competence – Repair Operator . 19
8.7 Inspection . 19
8.7.1 General . 19
8.7.2 Examples of typical inspection tasks . 19
8.7.3 Examples of evidence of inspection competence . 19
8.8 Commissioning . 20
8.8.1 General . 20
8.8.2 Examples of typical commissioning tasks . 20
8.8.3 Examples of evidence of commissioning competence . 21
8.9 Facility operation . 21
8.9.1 General . 21
8.9.2 Examples of typical facility operation tasks . 21
8.9.3 Examples of evidence of facility operation competence. 21
8.10 Testing of installed Ex Equipment . 22
8.10.1 General . 22
8.10.2 Examples of typical testing of installed Ex Equipment tasks . 23
8.10.3 Example of evidence of typical testing of installed equipment
competence . 23
8.11 Responsibility for specific Ex compliance functions . 23
8.11.1 General . 23
8.11.2 Examples of typical compliance functions . 23
8.11.3 Examples of evidence of compliance function competence . 23
8.12 Management (accountable administration) . 24
8.12.1 General . 24
8.12.2 Examples of typical management tasks . 24
8.12.3 Examples of evidence of management (accountable administration)
competence . 25
8.13 Procurement . 25
8.13.1 General . 25
8.13.2 Examples of typical procurement tasks . 25
8.13.3 Examples of evidence of procurement competence . 26
8.14 Training instructors . 26
8.14.1 General . 26
8.14.2 Examples of typical training tasks . 26
8.14.3 Examples of evidence of training competence . 26
8.15 Assessors of competence . 26
8.15.1 General . 26
8.15.2 Examples of typical assessor tasks . 26
8.15.3 Examples of evidence of assessor competence . 27
8.16 Other tasks . 27
8.16.1 General . 27
8.16.2 Example of evidence of other competence . 27
9 Evaluation assessment criteria . 27
9.1 General . 27
9.2 Pass-fail criteria . 27
10 Reassessment of competency evaluation . 28
Bibliography . 29
– 4 – IEC TS 60079-44:2023 © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES –
Part 44: Personal competence
FOREWORD
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Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus
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