In the realm of safety and compliance within the UK, the “written scheme of examination” is a critical document, often overshadowed by more direct safety measures yet pivotal in its role. This document outlines the procedures and intervals for thorough examinations and inspections of certain types of equipment, particularly those under pressure, such as boilers and air compressors.

Understanding the written scheme of examination is vital for businesses and organisations that utilise such equipment. It’s not just a legal requirement but a blueprint for ensuring the ongoing safety and efficiency of operations. This blog aims to demystify the concept, elaborating on its significance, the types of equipment it pertains to, and the legalities surrounding it.

As we delve into what a written scheme of examination entails, we will uncover its integral components, how it’s created, and who is responsible for its implementation and upkeep. This document, though often technical in nature, serves as a safeguard, protecting both the operators and the equipment by outlining mandatory inspections and maintenance procedures.

Written Scheme of Examination Guide

A written scheme of examinations is a necessary document that is mandatory for pressure systems containing fluids that need to be checked regularly, including vessels, pipe lines, and protective devices. Users and owners have an obligation to ensure such plans are in place.

Under UK regulations outlined in PSSR 2000, all systems (other than exempt ones) must include a written security evaluation document (WSE). A WSE serves as a legally binding document that must comply with regulations.

This table offers a succinct overview of what a written scheme of examination is, its purpose, legal requirements, and practical aspects, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of this crucial safety document.

In-service examinations

Written Schemes of Examination (WSEs) are legally binding documents required by law before professionals operate gas pressure systems professionally. Their purpose is to ensure users understand the limitations and limits of each system in order to maintain a safe working environment; additionally, they serve as useful records of inspections by licenced engineers. They are based upon UK regulations known as the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, which mandate an onsite examination prior to any use by an impartial, competent person.

Inspections may be performed by either a “competent person” or an “approved inspector,” with both types of inspectors conducting at least one annual inspection each. Furthermore, reviews and revisions to ensure an effective WSE system should also occur regularly throughout its life.

A Work System Evaluation document includes a list of pressure systems requiring testing as well as their dates for inspection and the type of exam to be administered. In general, WSEs should contain details on any pressure vessels, pipe lines, or protective devices needed for testing, along with details regarding who prepared this document (i.e., the name and date).

Additionally, the WSE must contain information regarding how the test will be administered, including when and how often examinations should take place, in order to meet regulatory requirements. This data is essential to ensuring timely examinations.

To be valid, the work safety evaluation must be signed off by an engineer certified as competent to certify it as being correct. Incorporation will give them access to indemnity insurance as well as provide contact addresses and engineers’ names on it.

In-service exams are an integral component of residency training programmes and serve to assess residents’ knowledge in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Exams administered under these standards are nationally standardised and psychometrically validated to test against the ABIM Pulmonary/Critical Care MOC blueprints; four hours should be set aside for both exams (ISE and OKAT) for completion; however, attendance is optional but please notify your programme if your plans prevent you from making the exam date.

Out-of-service examinations

If your compressed air system contains a pressure vessel, it is legally mandated to have a written scheme of examination (WSE). This document outlines inspection requirements and a schedule for periodic tests, its purpose being to ensure safety. A WSE must include details about who was certified and when certification was given.

Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR) outline the requirements of a WSE. This regulation covers any system that contains vessels or pipework that hold pressure while holding fluids with more than 0.5 bar above atmospheric pressure, such as gases operating above atmospheric pressure, pressurised steam with temperatures exceeding 110 °C, or liquids at temperatures that would produce vapour pressures exceeding 0.5 bar.

Equipment that has been in service for at least 30 years likely requires a WSE assessment due to corrosion, erosion, and fatigue, reducing mechanical integrity significantly and leaving it more susceptible to the sudden release of stored energy, which could result in system failure and lead to injury or even death.

As part of creating a Work Safety Evaluation (WSE), an appropriately qualified person must identify all examinable items within a pressure system—this may include items like pressure vessels, protective devices, and pipework—in which to examine. Furthermore, this document will provide details regarding the frequency of examinations as well as any special safety precautions required.

Before returning the system back into use or making major modifications, an out-of-service examination must be conducted. This will help reduce the risk of accidents due to sudden releases of stored energy. A work safety evaluation report will outline what needs to be examined, when, and who is responsible for performing it.

In addition to a thorough out-of-service examination, a qualified engineer should conduct at least one in-service test per year on any pressure system to ensure it remains safe for use and allow authorised persons to make an informed decision about whether it can continue operating safely or not.

Internal examinations

This outline is designed to assist candidates in focusing their study efforts on those subjects most pertinent to the exam. Each domain includes items that will help assess candidate performance during examinations. Candidates should keep in mind that this outline does not guarantee success in any particular exam and should not be taken as an exhaustive list of exam topics.

Under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations, users are required to have in place a written scheme of examination for all pressure systems larger than 250 bar/litre that must be created by a “competent person.” Owners or operators of such systems must also ensure annual examinations comply with this written scheme.

A written scheme of examination is a document that lists items of plant and equipment that make up a pressure system, operate under pressure, and contain fluids of interest (known as relevant fluids). Additionally, this scheme includes information regarding any examination required of these pieces of equipment, as well as preparation needed for safe examination procedures. Furthermore, safe operating limits and inspection procedures must also be included within its pages.

TWI discovered during its industrial visits that most companies had established multidisciplinary teams to assist the competent person with assessing risk and creating a written scheme of examination for their equipment. These teams typically consisted of user inspectors with daily ties to the machinery as well as enough technical resources available to conduct risk analyses; meetings between shutdowns or more regularly (perhaps once every month) ensured efficient functioning.

In general, a written scheme of examination reviews should take place regularly, with frequency depending on system type and risk level. These reviews may be conducted either directly by competent individuals or as part of a group comprised of competent people with RBM team representatives present; review frequency is determined based on system design characteristics and potential threats.

A written scheme of examination must be revised if a plant is dismantled, significantly modified, or its safe operating limits for components are altered. Furthermore, when any Safety Management System amendment occurs, it should also be updated accordingly and comprehensive understanding must be achieved by those producing WSEs so as to make appropriate amendments as soon as changes take place.

Periodic reviews

Periodic reviews are an essential element of financial services’ Know Your Customer (KYC) process, helping identify changes to a client’s risk profile and ensure regulatory compliance. Unfortunately, financial institutions often experience difficulty conducting these reviews due to time restrictions, data quality issues, and inadequate resource allocation, leading them to conduct shallow information refreshes instead of conducting more in-depth periodic reviews that could expose them to regulatory penalties or lead them away from valuable clients.

To address these challenges, it’s crucial to establish a systematic approach to periodic review and create checklists specific to each system. To do this effectively, it may involve various departments and personnel, such as quality units, subject matter experts (SMEs), users, IT, engineering, compliance departments, etc. Additionally, reviews must take into account any appropriate reviews, such as safety record reviews, as well as being completed in a timely fashion.

Periodic reviews should be carried out either regularly or after the completion of a revalidation study. They should include all the same components, including an exhaustive description of the system and its critical subsystems; a review of deviations and incidents, including frequency and reasons, to identify any trends away from their validated state; an impact analysis to understand their potential effects on the overall integrity of the system; etc.

Periodic reviews in pharmaceuticals serve to evaluate systems and processes directly involved with medicinal product creation. Such systems must be assessed periodically, with frequency dependent upon their risk level; scheduled reviews should also take this factor into consideration.

Doing a periodic review requires an experienced team. To make the review successful, it’s essential that all team members receive training on the review process as well as how to interpret its results. Identify and train members of this team accordingly before embarking on it.