This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to recognise and assess conditions that require gas testing; test the working atmosphere using an electronic test apparatus and interpret the results to determine if it is safe for the proposed job activity. 

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This course applies to situations where an individual may be required to perform gas testing prior to entering a specific area or workspace and whilst work is carried out in the workspace. Atmospheric testing is an important component of confined space work as these working environments may be hazardous, unpredictable, subject to time pressure, chaotic and expose responders to risk, on land or water, by day or night.

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Situations that require testing might include:

• confined spaces

• enclosed and partially enclosed spaces

• hot work

• storage tanks, silos, pits, pipes, shafts, ducts, transport vehicles and ships

• testing as part of issuing a work permit

• monitoring as part of working under a work permit

• open areas

• holding the gas tester by hand

• lowering the gas tester into a space, e.g. on a line.