 |
| Main Menu | News By Date | News By Supplier | News By Category | About Us |
|
CHANGES TO THE INSPECTION OF DIVING CYLINDERS
The Health and Safety Executive is advising owners of diving cylinders to note that from 1 July 2006 the regulations covering the periodic inspection and testing of their cylinders will change. In the future, persons conducting cylinder inspections in the UK will be subject to a third party conformity assessment. One possible option for people wishing to carry out inspections would be direct assessment by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to ensure their competency. Those who are successfully assessed will then be formally appointed by HSE. However, the costs of direct conformity assessment and appointment by UKAS could be fairly significant for small businesses; in particular, for those companies currently inspecting and testing cylinders for the recreational market. The issue of the new requirements placing an increased financial burden on small businesses was recognised some time ago by the Scuba Industries Trade Association and the Inspectorate for Diving Equipment Servicing and Testing when the draft directive requiring appointed 'inspection bodies' was circulated. As a result, SITA/IDEST have discussed with HSE ways in which their organisations could be included in the new scheme and an alternative option for conformity assessment has been agreed and is being developed. When it is finalised the current HSE guidance will be updated.
|
| ©2008 New Materials International |