Why Become and Stay an Authorised Gas Practitioner

Joining the SAQCC’s official database, which displays details of registered and authorised gas practitioners who work with a variety of gasses and gas systems, protects the South African public from unqualified practitioners carrying out unsafe gas work. As a consumer, a registered practitioner gives you peace of mind—knowing that they are competent and legally permitted to work safely with gas.

Whatever gas product is being worked on; safety must always come first. Kevin Crawford, a Technical Trainer for Refrigerant Gases at the South African Sugar Association, emphasised; “it’s not just your life, it’s also others’ lives around you too.” Safety is crucial as carbon monoxide poisoning, faulty gas systems and installations which kill many people each year. Clearly, there are huge risks involved and an incredibly small room for error when lives are at stake. Having an authorised gas practitioner greatly diminishes the chances of incompetence. “Understanding your product and being properly qualified to handle your product” means that you are fully aware of the high risks associated with gas work, according to ACS Gas and Water’s Technical Manager, Andre Strauss.

By respecting your own life and those around you, registering and staying authorised is promoting the value of life, not only within the gas industry but in our communities too!

From a gas practitioner’s perspective, being registered is also great for business. A multitude of potential customers access SAQCC’s online database looking for trustworthy service providers. Strauss says that newcomers in the gas industry need to find a mentor to guide them in acquiring the proper knowledge, skills and accreditation. Gas practitioners who want a future in the industry need to back up their service with credibility. “There are numerous groups on social media that you can tap into and ask your questions,” Strauss says. There is support and a real sense of comradery. “We all need to achieve one goal and make sure that it works for everybody and that everyone is on the same wavelength—working with the same regulations, creating a uniform standard.” Becoming and staying registered keeps gas practitioners well informed and enables them to maintain sound practice.

By respecting your own life and those around you, registering and staying authorised is promoting the value of life, not only within the gas industry but in our communities too! Crawford highlighted the additional motivation of protecting the environment: practitioners who are authorised and therefore trained to work with gas do so responsibly, such as not unnecessarily releasing gases into the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse gas effect.

Registered gas practitioners uphold the foremost concern in the industry: safety for everyone involved. Promoting respect for life positively affects our community. Additionally, authorised practitioners have a network of support from the associations and fellow professionals as well as knowing their good practice is not harming the environment.