Mobile Gas equipment Inspections

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The main cause of the incident shown in the picture above was attributed to the fact that the equipment had not had a thorough inspection in 11 years of use. Ageing safety equipment and hoses failed to function correctly allowing the gases to mix in the hose. The problem is that all equipment degrades over time and can develop faults that are not detectable by the usual pre use checks. This can be extremely dangerous considering the hazardous gases and extremely high pressures involved. 

Regular equipment inspection is not just good practice but a legal requirement.

The Health and safety at Work etc. Act (HSAW) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) both state that all work equipment must be regularly inspected to ensure it is safe for use and to detect any faults before they become dangerous. This requires the operator to check equipment every time prior to use along with regular functional checks (e.g. portable appliance testing (PAT) of electrical equipment). 

Pressurised Industrial gas equipment must meet Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR) which requires a Written Scheme of Examination (WSE) and a minimum of an annual inspection. Mobile gas equipment such as oxy-fuel gas cutting equipment on a trolly or Argon on the back of a welding set fall outside PSSR but this equipment still needs to be inspected.

The BCGA provide safety information and advice on the best practice when using, storing, transporting and handling industrial gases. Their codes of practice documents are recognised by the HSE as examples of best practice. 

The most pertinent documents are:

These codes Provide the minimum safety standards required for the assembly, examination, inspection, maintenance, and use of individual portable or mobile cylinder equipment, each gas being supplied from a cylinder and individually controlled by a cylinder-mounted pressure regulator. They do not cover toxic or corrosive gases.

The codes state that mobile gas equipment should have a full annual inspection as a minimum. A risk assessment should be carried out to see if a higher level of frequency is required.

Fishion Ltd provide a thorough on-site inspection of mobile gas equipment in line with both code of practice 7 and 47 for all your equipment. This includes a full report and equipment labelling when passed. 

Our inspector has many years’ inspections experience and provides training for gas equipment inspectors. You can rest assured that the equipment will receive a rigorous inspection to ensure it is safe to use. A report will be issued same day highlighting any problems that need rectification so that they can be dealt with promptly.

Please note: we do not supply replacement equipment.

We can also provide consultancy on other compressed gas safety issues such as safe storage, operating procedures and risk assessments.

Please contact us for further information, prices or to book a visit.