IHEEM AE REGISTERS
A key role in keeping medicalgas supplies safe
In the third of a series of four HEJ articles looking IHEEM’s four Authorising Engineer (AE) Registers, Ian Sandford, who chairs the AE (MGPS) Registration Board, and is a member of the Institute’s Medical Gas Technical Platform, examines the role of the Authorising Engineer (MGPS). He discusses the benefits of the IHEEM AE (MGPS) Registration Board, and gives his thoughts on improving the education, training, and registration of all parties responsible for the safe management of medical gas pipeline systems.
Having read the other recent IHEEM AE Register articles in HEJ by Graham Stanton and Dr Nick Hill, it is encouraging that the fundamentals of the AE role, regardless of the discipline, are similar. One could argue that the AE role should be the same. After all, the core principles of the role are described in HTM 00 / Scottish HTM 00, the principal advisory document, along with the discipline- specific HTMs and Scottish HTMs. The HTM 02-01 and Scottish HTM (SHTM) 02-01 guidance documents make specific references to legislation, international and British Standards, HSE regulations (COSHH, PSSR, etc.), and other discipline-related standards, such as electrical regulations and the Medical Devices Directive. For this reason, it is always recommended that one follows the guidance set down, in this case HTM / (S)HTM 02-01, as best practice. Failure to follow the recognised ‘best practice’ guidance documents and associated legislative documents could ultimately adversely affect patient wellbeing, and impact on those responsible for installing, validating, maintaining, and managing the
medical gas systems. This article looks at specific areas where I believe further development and more stringent controls and procedures are required.
A brief history
A fatal accident enquiry in the 1960s led to the publication of the Scottish Hospital Memorandum No. 67/1966, which laid down the conditions and procedures to govern the future acceptance of medical gas installations. Following the Memorandum’s issue, the Western Regional Hospital Board, based in Glasgow, published the first Code of Practice, which placed the responsibility for testing and inspection of medical gases with the Regional Engineer, and in some instances the Hospital Engineer was appointed the Responsible Officer, soon to become known as the Authorised Person. The lack of formal training of the Responsible Person however required that the contractor was regarded as the expert in the field. The Department of Health and Social Security published Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 22 in 1972, providing
all parties with guidance in the design, installation, and commissioning, of medical gases.
When HTM 02-01, Part B, was published in 2006, the IHEEM AE (MGPS) register had not been formed. However, the HTM makes reference to specific criteria for registration, such as academic and professional qualifications, training, and experience. The Scottish HTM however makes specific reference to the IHEEM AE (MGPS) register. The IHEEM AE (MGPS) Registration Board, previously the voluntary register for Authorising Engineers (MGPS), was formed in 2009. In addition, there are some misconceptions that the AE is an auditor, but in fact that is only part of the AE (MGPS) role.
Criteria for registration
The criteria for registration to the IHEEM AE (MGPS) Registration Board are very specific, and the standards an applicant should achieve will be discussed in this article. Following the formation of the AE (MGPS) register in 2009, the Scottish HTM 02-01 was developed and published in 2012. The SHTM – unlike the HTM – states that the AE should be a Chartered Engineer.
Applying to join the IHEEM AE (MGPS) Register
Figure 1: This medical gas manifold room shows the need for good design collaboration between contractors, designers, and independent advisors.
The application process to join the IHEEM AE (MGPS) Register is detailed on the IHEEM website, where prospective candidates can review the specific qualifications needed. (S)HTM 02-01, Part B also provides a description of the qualifications an applicant should attain to ensure they are able to apply. In this instance the applicant should be able to demonstrate professional qualifications, i.e. they must either be a Chartered Engineer in an appropriate engineering discipline, or have sufficient engineering and pharmaceutical knowledge and be qualified to the level equivalent to Incorporated Engineer. The Scottish HTM 02-01, Part B, recommends that the
March 2017 Health Estate Journal 19
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