Authorised Gas Tester

The OPITO Authorised Gas Tester eLearning course has been developed to provide personnel with the knowledge required to carry out atmospheric gas testing in support of confined space entry, hot work, and other permit-controlled activities. The course is accredited to the OPITO Authorised Gas Tester standard and develops an understanding of gas detection principles, atmospheric hazards, detector operation, and the responsibilities of the Authorised Gas Tester role.

Authorised Gas Testers play a critical role in ensuring that work areas remain safe before work begins and throughout the duration of potentially hazardous operations. This course develops the knowledge required to conduct gas testing, interpret results, understand atmospheric hazards, and support safe systems of work within high-risk industrial environments.

The training is delivered through a series of interactive eLearning modules with knowledge assessments throughout. Delegates must successfully complete each module with a minimum score of 80%. Successful completion results in an OPITO Authorised Gas Tester certificate valid for three years.

This course is designed for personnel who are required to carry out atmospheric gas testing or support permit-controlled work activities, including:

• Authorised Gas Testers
• Confined Space Gas Monitors
• Permit to Work personnel
• Maintenance technicians
• Operations personnel
• Mechanical and electrical technicians
• Supervisors responsible for confined space entry or hot work
• Personnel supporting shutdown and maintenance activities

The course is completed online through interactive eLearning modules incorporating animations, practical examples, and knowledge assessments. Learning is delivered in bite-sized sections, allowing delegates to progress through each topic before completing an assessment at the end of every module.

Delegates receive two attempts to successfully complete each assessment and must achieve a minimum score of 80% to progress. Upon successful completion, delegates receive an OPITO Authorised Gas Tester certificate valid for three years.

Upon successful completion of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Explain the responsibilities of the Authorised Gas Tester role.
• Describe the hazards associated with confined spaces and hot work.
• Carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments before gas testing activities.
• Select and use appropriate gas detection equipment for different applications.
• Carry out atmospheric testing using correct sampling techniques.
• Interpret gas detector readings including oxygen concentration, flammable gases, and toxic gases.
• Understand the implications of Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) and Lower Explosive Limits (LEL).
• Document gas test results and communicate findings within the permit-to-work system.
• Recognise detector limitations, failure modes, and calibration requirements.
• Understand the responsibilities of Gas Testers, Standby Persons, and Fire Watch personnel.

• Authorised Gas Tester Responsibilities
  Role responsibilities, permit-to-work systems, statutory requirements, operational responsibilities, and safe systems of work.
• Confined Space Gas Testing
  Confined space criteria, atmospheric hazards, oxygen deficiency and enrichment, toxic and flammable atmospheres, habitat monitoring, and cumulative hazards.
• Risk Assessment
  Planning gas testing activities, identifying hazards, determining test boundaries, and selecting appropriate control measures before work commences.
• Gas Detection Equipment
  Detector operating principles, calibration, bump testing, detector selection, aspirating and diffusion instruments, detector limitations, common failure modes, and equipment care.
• Atmospheric Sampling Techniques
  Representative sampling methods, sampling sequence, testing at multiple levels, remote sampling techniques, and testing inert atmospheres.
• Hot Work Gas Testing
  Gas testing requirements before and during hot work, vapour cloud behaviour, acceptable gas limits, continuous monitoring, and retesting requirements.
• Flammable and Toxic Gas Hazards
  Properties and behaviour of gases, LEL, WEL, oxygen limits, gas migration, and the effects of environmental changes on atmospheric conditions.
• Personal Protective Equipment
  Selection and use of PPE and respiratory protective equipment appropriate to identified atmospheric hazards.
• Documentation and Communication
  Recording gas test results, communicating findings, reporting abnormal conditions, and obtaining specialist assistance where required.
• Emergency Response
  Responsibilities of Standby Persons and Fire Watch personnel, emergency arrangements, alarm procedures, and responding to changing atmospheric conditions.

Successful completion of the course will result in an OPITO Authorised Gas Tester certificate issued by OPITO through RelyOn. Delegates must achieve a minimum score of 80% in each module assessment. The certificate is valid for three years.