A key role in keeping medical gas 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 disciplinespecific 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