THE ASSET , IDEST, SITA PROPOSAL CONT..........

Cylinder Testers course is a single course that is available in two parts.
Part 1 is included in the Dive Industry Technicians Course as a required element of the ASSET Technicians Certificate. Part 1 is also available as the first half of a four-day programme for those who are interested only in cylinder testing. Part 1 is an introduction to Cylinder Testing Practices and Procedures, Part 2 concentrates on Basic Metallurgy, Inspection and Determination. Satisfactory completion of both courses results in a single certification i.e. "The ASSET Cylinder Testers Certificate" This is the certification required by ASSET Standards for the Technician in charge of an Approved Test Station. A person holding the Part 1 certificate may only test cylinders under the direct supervision of a person holding the ASSET Cylinder Testers Certificate.
Any one holding the ASSET Technicians Certificate or an IDEST course attendance certificate who wish to gain the ASSET Cylinder Testers Certificate, need only attend the Part 2 course.

Rebreather Technicians Certificate

ASSET is currently developing the standards for this Certification, planned to be available by the end of 1998. Members suggestions for the content of this standard are most welcome.

• ASSET Standards would be accepted in full by SITA.
• 
  
• ASSET would continue to develop and have sole responsibility for its training and approval programme as set out in its Proposal to the HSE for the Self-Regulation of Maintenance, Repair and Gas Production Activities.
• 
  
• ASSET would work with IDEST to integrate its cylinder testing standards and procedures with those of ASSET.
• 
  
• IDEST would expand its inspection activities in order to implement the ASSET Approval Scheme.
• 
  
• A Technical Steering Group (TSG) would be set up to focus all ASSET/IDEST/SITA technical efforts into a long-term industry strategy.
• 
  
• The TSG would be small comprising technically oriented persons including permanent representatives from ASSET and IDEST, a Chairman and persons co-opted for their expertise to address specific issues.
• 
  
• A provisional deadline of 01/04/98 has been set for IDEST to adopt ASSET standards
• 
  
• There would be a transitional period for existing IDEST Approved test houses to transfer to ASSET standards and CP 2 (these changes are not expected to create serious problems).
• 
  
• ASSET marketing and administration would continue to be handled as at present, though it is envisaged that in the long term routine tasks such as annual membership renewals would be transferred to SITA
• 
  

• ASSET Membership will be unaffected. Member participation will be confined to the affairs of ASSET.
• 
  
• The administration of the ASSET approval scheme would be handed over to SITA for use by IDEST.
• 
  

Voting on the proposals

We believe that the above proposals, if accepted, will add value to ASSET membership and qualifications and will be good for the future of our industry whilst at the same time protecting our independence.

As members of the Association, the majority of you will have received copies of this document. All but a few new members will have received a pro-forma reply to send to the HSE. Let us be clear what we are protesting about; it isn't the requirement for an approved person but the proposed means of implementing the approval scheme.
The content of this document is not being proposed on safety grounds but as part of the harmonisation of European legislation allowing the transport of dangerous goods within member states of the EC. The HSE even admit in the document that not only is there unlikely to be any safety benefits from implementing this Legislation, but also that the costs will outweigh any benefits.
As written, the proposal makes no provision for small businesses, it is obvious that only large gas producers and industrial test stations have been considered. Rumour has it that even BOC is unhappy, due to the expense of having  their many sites separately approved.

Cylinder Testers Course

Cylinder Testing Level 1 and Level 2 have been renamed Part 1 and Part 2. The intention is to remove the confusion that Level 2 is an optional "advanced course", it is not; The

2