Utility Safety Health and Environmental Awareness (Gas) (SHEA)

Course duration: 1 Day

Course Content

The course content and delivery specification has been developed through consultation with the gas industry. Training material is produced and managed by Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) on the industry’s behalf. The content is reviewed periodically and consists of seven core modules and five specific to the gas industry. All modules must be completed. The course may only be delivered by trainers approved and licensed by EU Skills.

The course will be delivered through the context of the gas industry.

Core Modules

Module 1

You and the Law

Duties under the law – not to harm themselves or other persons.
Duties of the employer – not to allow injury to occur to their employees and other persons.
Requirements for instructions, information and training.
Definition of hazards (potential to harm).
Definition and understanding of risk and risk assessment process and control measures.
Principles followed in the Construction, Design and Management Regulations (2007) (CDM)
The role of Health & Safety Executive Inspectors.

Module 2

You and Hazards to Your Health

Examples of physical, chemical and biological hazards that can affect the employees’ health and safety e.g. noise, vibration, machinery and transport.
Knowledge of risk assessment approach to hazards and principles behind risk reduction methods.
Responsibilities to maintain personal health and safety e.g. awareness of occupational stress.
Where the employee can find information of potential hazards e.g. COSHH datasheets, measuring noise level.
Causes and preventative actions relating to hand, arm vibration.

Module 3

Protecting You

Appropriate Risk Assessments regarding COSHH
Responsibility to wear, maintain and store Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Understanding of the need for PPE.
Responsibilities of the employer to provide and maintain PPE.
Understanding of the type and range of PPE.
How PPE is selected.
Use of appropriate safety equipment e.g. lifting aids.

Module 4

The Working Environment

Hazards associated with access and egress to place of work e.g. falls from height, slips, trips and falls.
Reasons for good housekeeping and provision of welfare facilities.
Understanding of signage used in the working environment.
Understanding of the hazards associated with confined spaces and excavations.
Hazards of working with electricity.
Basic principles applied within working at height legislation.

Module 5

Our Environment

Understanding of the consequences of actions on the wider environment.
Demonstrate an awareness of the legislation to the wider environment, including:

Watercourses and drains
Waste Management
Pollution Control
Wildlife and the public

Module 6

Incident Procedures

General emergency procedures e.g. fire evacuation and first aid.
Required reporting processes e.g. near miss, accident, work related illness and dangerous occurrences.
Need to assist in any investigations.
The role of Occupational Health.
Fire extinguisher types and their correct use.

Module 7

Equipment

Responsibilities of both Employers and Employees under the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
Risks from transport e.g. site layout-traffic controls, banks man.
Understanding of the need for plant inspections.
Need for specific plant training e.g. HGV, FLT, CPCS, and PLUS
Basic checks required prior to operating portable electrical tools.
Basic conditions required to be met in order to comply with LOLER (1998)

Gas Industry Specific Modules

Module 8

Network/AGI Hazards to Health

Needs and actions to be followed regarding hygiene awareness and welfare issues
To understand the specific health requirements e.g. COSHH. assessments, avoiding exposure to asbestos, sealants, solvents, diesel, toxic gases.
Specific manual handling requirements within network operations e.g. kerb lifting.
Risks and preventative measures including health surveillance associated with noise and vibration
Understand the requirements for safe systems of work
Understand the definitions of Toxicity & Asphyxiation

Module 9

Working in the Highway

Basic principles of working within the highway e.g. signing, lighting & guarding.
Public concern and particular locations.
Safe egress and access to and from network sites e.g. plant and delivery movements
Above ground factors and risks that influence the network operations e.g. overhead cables

Module 10

Excavations

Safe system of work. e.g. site specific risk assessments and method statements.
Location, identification and avoidance of underground services.
Safe digging techniques.
Techniques used to prevent ground collapse.
Actions to be followed in case of damage to services.
Demonstrate awareness of LOLER as applicable to Network operations.

Module 11

The AGI Working Environment

To understand safe access and egress in relation to AGI e.g. plant and delivery movements, working at heights and buildings containing fixed plant operations.
Be aware of the risks on shared site activities (Contractors working on company sites) and CDM
Understand the risks associated with lone working and personal security.
Understand the risk of entering Confined Spaces.
Other site services and risks that influence the process operations e.g. overhead / underground cables, explosive/toxic piped gases.
How to respond to emergency situations e.g. gas escape

Module 12

Machinery and Equipment

Identify machinery which could cause injury e.g. entanglement, amputation and burns,
Mechanical handling e.g. craneage, hoists, davits, forklift trucks.
Aware of dangers from workplace transport e.g. Transport routes and signage
Aware of electrical risks and measures to reduce danger e.g. permits to work, locking off procedures.
Risks associated with Visual Display Units.