New IGEM document replaces Gas Safe Register’s GUISP

The priority for gas engineers when encountering an unsafe situation is to safeguard life and property. It is essential that gas engineers are able to identify gas equipment which presents a danger - and know how to deal with it. This month, Gas Safe Register has withdrawn Edition 7.1 of The Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GUISP) which set out procedures for dealing with unsafe appliances.  It has been replaced by a new document published by the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) called IGEM/G/11 and you should take a look at it.   What’s the new procedure for? The new document has been drawn up in order to help competent engineers meet their legal duties in accordance with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) and associated Approved Code of Practice and Guidance. It shows engineers:

• how to identify gas equipment that presents a danger
• how to correctly classify unsafe gas installations
• the actions that should be taken to prevent accidents and risks to safety.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supports the procedures the new document sets out which will assist the industry in maintaining a consistent approach to risk assessment.   What are the changes? The new IGEM/G/11 is very similar to the old Gas Safe Register document but it looks a bit different and a couple of the sections have been updated to make things clearer. There’s new guidance on categorising situations. In Table One, a long list of scenarios is presented with recommended classifications; either AR – ‘At Risk’ or ID ‘Immediately Dangerous’ Appendix 5, which deals with Visual Risk Assessment, has also been updated. It clearly sets out the recommended minimum checks an engineer should make in order to fulfill their legal requirements - and compliance with HSWA and GSIUR. The document takes pains to point out that the primary responsibility for compliance with legal duties rests with the employer, stressing that when certain employees, for example “competent engineers”, are allowed to exercise their professional judgment, the employer’s primary responsibilities are not cancelled-out. Decisions made by “competent engineers’ should be supported and monitored and the level of responsibility given to them, appropriate.   How do I find out about it? IGEM makes it clear that their new document is ‘live’ and will be revised periodically as new information/guidance becomes relevant.