OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES (QUALIFICATIONS) REGULATIONS 2009

The regulations set out qualification requirements for those handling ozone depleting substances.  

They implement requirements of Regulation EC/1005/2009 for minimum qualification standards for persons carrying out:

• the recovery, recycling, reclamation or destruction of controlled substances; and
• the prevention and minimising of leakages of controlled substances.

Controlled substances means chlorofluorocarbons, other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, methyl bromide, hydrobromofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, whether alone or in a mixture, and whether they are virgin, recovered, recycled or reclaimed.

Minimum competency levels can be demonstrated through obtaining a qualification on one of the following courses:

Task	Equipment	Min. Qualification
Equipment Maintenance and Servicing	Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment which is stationary at all times when in operation. Commercial and domestic refrigerators and freezers which are stationary at all times when in operation. Portable refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.	(a) City & Guilds Certificate in Handling Refrigerants Scheme 2078(15). (b) Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants (J01)(16). (c) City & Guilds Level 2 Award in F Gas and ODS Regulations Scheme 2079-11: Category I or 2079-12: Category II. (d) Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants J11: Category I or J12: Category II.
Dismantling of equipment.	Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment: (a) which is stationary at all times when in operation; and (b) which can only be dismantled at the place at which the equipment is used.	(a) City & Guilds Certificate in Handling Refrigerants Scheme 2078. (b) Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants (J01). (c) City & Guilds Level 2 Award in F Gas and ODS Regulations Scheme 2079-11: Category I, 2079-12: Category II or 2079-13: Category III. (d) Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants J11: Category I, J12: Category II or J13: Category III.
Decommissioning of equipment.	Fire protection systems and fire extinguishers.	(a) British Fire Protection Systems Association Competence Certificate Course Class I. (b) Fire Industry Competence Certificate Course Class 1(17).

A person is competent to carry out any other relevant work not listed above if that person has obtained an in-house qualification in respect of that other relevant work. The regulations also introduce specific requirements for competency when working with methyl bromide, namely, the person has:

• a British Pest Control Association Certificate of Proficiency for Fumigation Operators; and
• successfully completed the relevant British Pest Control Association module relating to the work in question, either: soil; space fumigation, buildings, warehouses, silos and mills; commodities under sheet, grain stores and timber; containers and lighters; ships; aircraft; bubble; or, chambers and permanently sited containers.

It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the person is competent. Training organizations must keep records of all persons trained for the required period. The regulations are enforced by the Environmental Agencies, (EA, SEPA), local authorities and port health authorities.

Voluntary schemes have been established that refrigeration contractors can sign up to, thereby ensuring good practice with such legislation. These are:

• REFCOM (www.refcom.org.uk), which is geared towards companies, and
• the ACRIB Register of Safe Refrigerant Handlers (www.acrib.org.uk) for individual handlers of refrigerants.

Applicability

This legislation is applicable to all of Ardagh's site within Great Britain.

The company must ensure that only qualified persons work on units containing ozone depleting substances.The company representative has stated that external contractors are used for the installation and maintenance of air conditioning units. 

The engineering department takes responsibility for appointing these contractors and ensuring that copies of all relevant certificates and qualifications are kept in the office for each site. It should be ensured that contractors hold either: a City & Guilds Certificate in Handling Refrigerants Scheme 2078; or Construction Industry Training Board Safe Handling of Refrigerants Reference 206710.

 

Related Aspects
Refrigerants