Programme sets standard for hydrogen sulfide training

H2S (hydrogen sulfide) is a killer gas that acts as a broad spectrum poison when inhaled by mammals. Broad spectrum means that it can affect many different systems in the body – from the respiratory, pulmonary and circulatory to the digestive system. 

Over the years, numerous workers around the world have lost their lives in incidents that might have been prevented had their training been better. H2S is so toxic that a dose of 1,000 PPM (the equivalent of one tenth of 1%) will cause immediate unconsciousness and death within a few minutes, even if the casualty is removed to fresh air. H2S remains one of the biggest causes of death in the Oil & Gas sector and is unlocked as a result of drilling and well-servicing operations.  

The nature of H2S training around the world is highly variable. Major corporations have their own internally accredited training regimes in place, but many smaller operators run less formalised courses. Across the board though, they all have one thing in common: none is part of a universally quality assured and certificated standard by an external qualifications authority.  

A new programme that benchmarks performance and sets an external standard

The need for an external and unifying system of verification has led Sabre Safety to work with the world-renowned Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to establish a course for H2S safety supervisors that sets an independent and internationally recognised standard. The H2S Safety Supervisor Customised Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programme allows Sabre Safety to benchmark performance. As an SQA-approved training centre, Sabre Safety is subject to the same external verification.  

The thought process behind the programme has been to create industry best practice. H2S training is possibly one of the last remaining areas of workplace safety in which life and death situations occur on a daily basis and yet where there is no formal qualification for companies that provide H2S safety services – in other words for anyone who is working for safety services with H2S. Having a recognised qualification for all H2S technicians must become a minimum industry standard that world over.

The award has been credit rated by the SQA at Level 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) with 61 credit points. Technicians are subject to ongoing competence assessment and periodic re-training: the qualification is a standard that has to be evidentially maintained.

Training that links to operational requirements

All aspects of the CVQ programme operate under the ISO 9001-certified Integrated Management System. Crucially, as a customised vocational award, assessments can take place in the workplace and therefore out of the classroom environment, linking into operational requirements and delivery of services.  The CVQ covers all areas of an H2S Safety Supervisor’s responsibilities, including standard operating procedures, training and contingency planning, with an emphasis on health, safety and environmental matters throughout.  

All assessments are carried out according to a formal assessment plan and criteria as defined by a qualified assessor in the unit of competence; all assessments contain direct observation by assessors.  

Evidence-based assessment and standardisation

Each unit of competence requires candidates to gather evidence as part of their CVQ portfolio. All evidence is reviewed by the lead assessor against the criteria as defined in the unit of competence; further evidence may well be called for at this stage. It is only when the lead assessor is content that evidence is satisfactory that the portfolio is passed on to the CVQ co-ordinator and an internal verifier. Standardisation meetings ensure that all assessors are making the same decision on the same evidence base as well as looking for areas of improvement.

The H2S Safety Supervisor CVQ Programme took around 1.5 years to develop with SQA, meeting the authority’s stringent evidential and procedural requirements. The course has two exit levels: Level 1 (H2S Safety Supervisor) and Level 2 (H2S Senior Safety Supervisor). To date some 14 technicians have graduated from the course, and all other technicians are working towards the qualification.

Jane Robson is head of QHSE with Sabre Safety, a specialist in Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) services.

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