OPITO Authorised Gas Tester course moves online

OPITO’s Authorised Gas Tester (AGT) accreditation is valid for three years: if the time is approaching for you to re-sit the course, then you might find the process a little different this time around.

The global Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that learning takes place, with many training providers switching from traditional classroom-based training to an online model.

OPITO has been able to do this with the AGT accreditation, and there is no requirement for candidates to attend an invigilation centre at present. The course is now fully online, but those planning to undertake it must provide proof of identity.

If you are sitting the course with Mintra, then the process for gaining a certificate could not be easier. All you have to do is take a selfie photograph of your full face with your personal ID next to you and then email this to learning.centre@mintra.com either before, or on the same day of course completion.

On completion you will initially receive a certificate from Mintra, but this will be updated to an approved OPITO certificate once your identity has been verified. This usually takes place within 24 hours of proof of identity being submitted.

The OPITO-approved AGT course is essential for those working in the oil and gas industry who are involved in carrying out tests for oxygen and for flammable and toxic gases prior to hot work or work in a confined space. It is also aimed at those who are tasked with performing safety watch duties for hot work activities.

Operations involving hot work, such as welding and angle grinding, carry a significant risk if there is gas present because a single spark or high level of heat may be enough to ignite it. Similarly, working in a confined space with limited ventilation can be incredibly dangerous if the space also contains hazardous gases.

The fully online version of the AGT course can be completed in around four hours and is designed to give learners a basic understanding of gas hazards and how these can be mitigated by testing and other control measures.

The course, which expects learners to have at least received some formal training in gas testing, ends with an online assessment for which the pass mark is 80%.