IECEx scheme for certification

of personnel competence
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Working in hazardous areas Assessment and certification continued capabilities and compliance with
— — all requirements.
People are the weakest link in most safety While the IECEx scheme for certification
chains. Investigations typically conclude of personnel competence is owned
that the overwhelming majority of accidents and operated by the IEC (International Training
are caused by a lack of competence, Electrotechnical Commission), the IEC does —
clear responsibilities and commitment. not issue IECEx certificates of personnel In addition to relying on the IECEx ExCB to
Unfortunately accidents continue to occur competence (CoPCs). The assessment of assess candidates and issue certificates,
in both industrialized and developing personnel competence against detailed the IEC also expects ExCBs to maintain
countries. Hazardous areas where explosive requirements and the issuing of certificates and update their capabilities; to work
atmospheres may be present are no to successful candidates are performed by with organizations such as the IECEx
exception. specialist organizations that are appropriately recognized training providers (RTPs) that
capable and equipped. Those organizations can prepare candidates for assessment and
The IECEx System has introduced the are independent of the IEC; they have been certification; and to promote the importance
IECEx scheme for certification of personnel assessed and accredited against strict and of competence as a key element in safe
competence, covering most aspects relevant comprehensive IECEx rules and comply working. The IEC draws on the resources
to working with equipment in hazardous with the requirements of the international of the IECEx Management Committee, the
areas. This was originally developed at standard ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity IECEx Executive, the contributing experts
request of industry, particularly the oil and assessment - General requirements for and assessors, and the IEC Communications
gas sector where contract workers need bodies operating certification of persons. Department to support the ExCBs in meeting
to be assessed for their capability to work these expectations.
safely in many different parts of the world at Once accepted as an IECEx certification body
any time. (ExCB), an organization is subject to regular
and ongoing surveillance audits that ensure Main objective: safety
—
The objective of the IECEx scheme for
certification of personnel competence is to
make the world a safer place and to use
the principles of conformity assessment
to provide employers and others with the
confidence that the personnel working in or
near hazardous areas containing explosive
atmospheres have been independently
certified as competent to do so according
to the world’s best practice requirements –
the ExCBs are essential partners of IEC and
providers to industry in this endeavour.

Due to commercial pressure, many

companies have reduced the number of
their competent experts in safety issues
and transferred the obligations and safety
critical tasks to external service providers.
This reduces costs and gives them more
flexibility. On the other hand, without enough
own internal experts, it is very difficult if not
impossible to control the competence and
experience of external service providers
and of new employees. Independent,
third-party certification systems, such as

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IECEx, are based on IEC 60079, the series
of international standards on explosive
atmospheres.

Service providers for plant design,

equipment selection, installation, inspection,
maintenance, repair and overhaul are
assessed and certified by independent
external experts who help bridge the gap
and can assist to minimize the risks and
consequences of accidents. The IECEx
scheme for certification of personnel
competence offers an independent
evaluation of the knowledge and skills of
people who works in hazardous areas; they
can be employees of the process companies
as well as of external service providers.

To help you select the right partners for

safety critical jobs, all CoPCs are all available
online on the IECEx website.

Why is the IEC 60079 series of

Standards used?
—
Standards for hazardous locations require
the use of special equipment to avoid
ignition of the atmosphere. If that special
equipment is NOT selected, installed,
operated or maintained correctly, it may not
provide the expected explosion protection
integrity and therefore render the installation
potentially unsafe.

The use of competent persons to work on

and near such equipment can ensure that
it is designed, installed, inspected, used
and maintained correctly and will therefore
sustain the explosion protection integrity for
the lifespan of the equipment.

Furthermore, most countries have legislation

regarding safety in the workplace. In most
cases the owner or operator is responsible
for the design, selection, installation,
operation, maintenance and safe operation
of electrical equipment under their control.
In the event of an incident, the responsibility
of the owner or the operator of the plant is

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clear – hence it is in their interest to ensure ‘Repair facilities shall operate a Quality
that personnel involved are competent and Management System.
continue to remain so.
The repair facility shall appoint a person
International standards, such as the IEC (‘responsible person’) with the required
60079-10 series, IEC 60079-14, IEC competency (see Annex B), within the
60079-17 and IEC 60079-19, define the management organization, to accept
expected competence of personnel for responsibility and authority for ensuring that
all aspects of electrical installations at all the overhauled/repaired equipment complies
stages of their lifecycle. with the certification status agreed with the
user. The person so appointed shall have
Applying such standards and conformity a working knowledge of the appropriate
assessment principles and processes to the explosion protection standards and an
measurement and verification of personnel understanding of this standard.
competence provides an independent
validation of the ability of personnel to apply The repair facility must have adequate
their knowledge and practical skills to a repair and overhaul facilities as well as
required level of performance in workplace the appropriate equipment necessary
environments. and trained Operatives with the required
competency (see Annex B) and authority to
In summary, the IECEx scheme for carry out the activities, taking into account
certification of personnel competence the specific type of protection.
provides certification that someone is
competent to apply the IEC International In both standards, it is a requirement that
Standards as listed on the IECEx certificate. competent persons undertake the work;
and, in many countries, it is likely that the
There are several references in IEC requirements given in both these standards
Standards that effectively require that only are embraced by regulations or legislation,
competent persons can carry out all work in thus making competence mandatory.
and associated with explosive atmospheres.

IEC 60079-14, clause 4.5: Qualifications of How are personnel competence

personnel, states: and service provider activities
the IEC 60079 series (see above). To meet
“The design of the installation, the selection linked?
this need, the IECEx scheme for certification
of equipment and the erection covered —
of personnel competence was set up. It
by this standard shall be carried out only In parallel with the establishment of the
is now widely available around the world
by persons whose training has included IECEx certified service facilities scheme,
through the accepted IECEx ExCBs listed on
instruction on the various types of protection and with additional pressure from industry,
the IECEx website.
and installation practices, relevant rules and the IECEx System started to look at
regulations and on the general principles of extending the principles to other activities
The IECEx scheme for certification of
area classification. The competency of the undertaken in hazardous areas. It was soon
personnel competence provides independent
person shall be relevant to the type of work recognized that any new scheme must
verification that a person holding an IECEx
to be undertaken (see Annex F). rely on the competence of the individuals
CoPC has the ability to apply his/her skills,
performing the activity; there was a need
knowledge, qualifications and experience
Appropriate continuing education or training for a qualification that was transparent and
to work safely in accordance with relevant
shall be undertaken by personnel on a transportable throughout the world, with
international standards on explosive
regular basis.” independent certification based on evidence
atmospheres. This can be especially
showing training, practical application and
important for contracting staff.
Also, IEC 60079-19, clause 4.4: Instructions examined knowledge in the relevant aspects
for the repair facility, states: of the five ‘user directed’ standards within

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The scheme provides: The IECEx CoPC is personal and valid across and skills could be obtained by any means
IECEx personnel competence international borders. such as tertiary education, internal company
assessment report (IECEx PCAR)) training, external private training, on the job
IECEx certificate of personnel As well as the certificate itself, the person mentoring, etc.
competence (CoPC) obtains an identification card with photo,
providing instant proof of certification on- In determining if somebody is competent,
To obtain an IECEx CoPC, a person prepares site. The CoPC may be verified on the IECEx it is usual that both the level of knowledge
an application and submits it to an approved website or the IECEx application for mobile and the acquired skills are considered. This
ExCB. devices. is always assessed in light of the expectation
of the duties and responsibilities that will be
The person will undergo knowledge tests This IECEx scheme for certification of assigned to the individual and the application
and an assessment of qualifications and personnel competence opens the way for of that knowledge and skill to the standards
experience before receiving an IECEx a global scheme to provide consistency in of performance required in the workplace.
certificate. Regular re-assessment ensures the assessment of competent persons. It is
that the certified person maintains his/her structured to provide separation from any The concept of competence focuses on what
competences and currency of knowledge training schemes and therefore gives the is expected of an employee in the workplace
with the relevant standards which may be highest level of integrity of assessment. rather than the learning process but also
revised and updated. The scheme recognizes that knowledge embodies their ability to transfer and apply

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skills and knowledge to new situations and The difficulty confronting an owner or It is intended to assess the person’s
environments. operator is the dilemma of what they can competence and not that of an organization.
accept to prove that persons undertaking This means that it will apply directly to each
Competence includes all aspects of work work in their plant are competent. They can individual and is not referred or conferred
performance and not only specific skills and accept the responsibility of deeming their through a company simply because that is
is based on an appropriate evidence which own personnel as competent; however this where the person works.
should include proof of: does not address contracted persons. The
1. Qualifications (off job): This may be a other possibility is to rely on all personnel It is not concerned with how the knowledge
university degree, a diploma, craftsman/ being considered competent through a and skills are obtained but only uses an
trade training that is generally achieved company or national scheme. This may assessment of objective evidence. This
through an education system. cover most situations but does not help if means that it is not compulsory that training
2. Experience (on job): Apprenticeship, work is being done in other countries or the is undertaken as a part of the assessment
trainee program, direct supervision or workers are from a different country. process; it also helps to remove any
mentoring are examples of the typical conflict a training organization may have by
experience that would be considered. The IECEx scheme for the certification of removing them from the assessment.
3. Recent and relevant training (both on personnel competence has been established
and off the job): it is essential that to provide a consistent approach to the This IECEx scheme addresses the
knowledge and skills are maintained; to assessment of the competence of personnel certification of personnel competence
achieve this, a competent person would that work in Ex areas, in compliance with involved in activities through eleven units of
be expected to attend refresher training IEC International Standards as listed on the competence:
or seminars, etc. certificate.

Why is competence important in

risk management and law?
—
Today most countries have legislation in
terms of safety and in most cases the owner
or operator is responsible for the design,
installation, operation and maintenance
of electrical equipment in plants and their
safe operation. International Standards
clearly formulate the expected competence
of personnel for all aspects of electrical
and non-electrical installations as well as
for use, maintenance and adequate repair
and overhaul. In case of an incident, the
responsibility of the owner or the operator in
charge of the plant is clearly engaged. It is
in his/her interest to ensure that personnel
involved in above work are competent,
especially when using outsourced labour.
The difficulty up to now has been with the
ability to identify a mechanism by which they
can be confident that competent persons
are carrying out the work. The IECEx scheme
for the certification of personnel competence
makes this much easier.

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 Basic knowledge and awareness to associated with explosive atmospheres Other useful documents include:
enter a site that includes a classified (Unit Ex 007) IECEx OD 504 which provides details of
hazardous area (Unit Ex 000) Performing detailed inspection of the various certification units defined by
Applying the basic principles of electrical installations in or associated the type of work done; it also defines
protection in explosive atmospheres with explosive atmospheres the assessment requirements for
(Unit Ex 001) (Unit Ex 008) certification to each unit.
Performing classification of hazardous Designing electrical installations in or IECEx OD 503 which outlines the
areas (Unit Ex 002) associated with explosive atmospheres certification process
Installing explosion-protected (Unit Ex 009)
equipment and wiring systems Performing audit inspection of electrical More information available from your
(Unit Ex 003) installations in or associated with choice of IECEx ExCBs or by email to
Maintaining equipment in explosive explosive atmospheres (Unit Ex 010) [email protected]
atmospheres (Unit Ex 004)
Overhauling and repairing explosion- Each unit of competence describes the
protected equipment (Unit Ex 005) competence required for a particular work More information on IECEx
Testing electrical installations in or function. It is envisaged that an individual’s
associated with explosive atmospheres job description will probably require more
(Unit Ex 006) than one of the specific units of competence.
Performing visual and close inspection Unit Ex 001 can stand alone, but all other IECEx EXCBs
of electrical installations in or units require completion of Unit Ex 001 at
least. Some other units also interlink, e.g.
Unit Ex 008 which also requires completion
of Unit Ex007. Search for CoPCs

A person may have limitations of his/

her competence in terms of type of
equipment (an individual may be qualified IECEx Guide 05A
for instrumentation but not electric motors,
etc.), equipment group (mining, gas, or
dust), type of protection (expertise in intrinsic
safety but not flameproof, etc.) and voltage IECEx OD 503
range (not everyone will have experience at
11 kV). Restrictions may also be applied to
certificates for specific units and these are
defined on the supporting PCAR. IECEx OD 504

You are a trained, skilled and

experienced person and want to go.iec.ch/
achieve IECEx certification for iecexpersons
your competence – how do you
begin and what do you need to
do? go.iec.ch/
— iecexpersonnel
As a starting point we recommend you read
IECEx Guide 05A available on the IECEx
website

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 IEC System for Certification
to Standards Relating to
Equipment for Use in
Explosive Atmospheres

IECEx Secretariat T +61 2 46284690

Level 33 Australia Square [email protected]
264 George Street www.iecex.com
IECEx CoPC:2019-04(en)

Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

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