CompEx helps organisations demonstrate workforce competence and alignment with IEC 60079 requirements through independent assessment, certification and ongoing competence assurance.
Used by employers, operators, contractors and supply chains worldwide, CompEx supports safer working practices in hazardous areas across oil & gas, utilities, water treatment, energy generation, chemicals, maritime, manufacturing and other safety-critical industries.
Why competence matters in hazardous areas
Working with electrical and non-electrical equipment in hazardous areas requires more than attendance on a training course. Employers and asset owners must ensure that personnel are competent to carry out work safely and in accordance with relevant standards, procedures and risk controls.
- IEC 60079 standards, alongside national regulations and industry practices, place increasing emphasis on competence, inspection, verification and ongoing assessment. CompEx provides independent third-party certification that helps organisations:
- Demonstrate workforce competence
- Support compliance with IEC 60079 requirements
- Improve contractor and supply chain assurance
- Reduce operational and process safety risk
- Create consistent competence expectations across sites and regions
- Provide evidence during audits, inspections and client prequalification
“Training attendance alone does not demonstrate competence.
CompEx independently assesses knowledge and practical capability against defined standards”
Why independent competence assessment?
Many organisations source training for their workforce. However, asset owners increasingly require independent verification that individuals can apply knowledge safely and consistently in real-world hazardous area environments.
CompEx certification provides an independent benchmark of competence through practical and theoretical assessment aligned to internationally recognised standards and industry expectations. This provides confidence for:
- Employers and duty holders
- Operators and asset owners
- Procurement and supply chain teams
- Regulators and auditors
- Insurance and risk stakeholders
- Clients operating across multiple regions or contractors
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Training only Attendance based Variable standards Limited external assurance No summative assessment |
Internal sign-off Employer dependent Inconsistent across sites No consistent benchmark No external validation |
CompEx certification Impartial assessment Standardised global framework Cross industry recognition Practical and theory test |
Built around IEC 60079 principles
CompEx qualifications and competence frameworks are based on internationally recognised hazardous area standards, including the IEC 60079 series. The scheme supports organisations operating under different regulatory and industry frameworks worldwide, including:
- IEC-based international standards
- ATEX and SEVESO environments
- UK DSEAR and COMAH obligations
- NEC regulations
- Operator-specific competence frameworks
- Corporate engineering standards
- Contractor and supply chain requirements
This means that CompEx can help organisations demonstrate that competence management arrangements align with recognised industry standards and good practice expectations.
Which certification is right for my team?
A competence framework that works for employers
CompEx competency frameworks help organisations define, benchmark and verify competence requirements across different job roles and levels of responsibility. The framework supports:
- Workforce competence mapping
- Role-based competence requirements
- Contractor assurance
- Succession and skills planning
- Verification and revalidation cycles
- Alignment to IEC 60079 expectations
- Consistent standards across multiple sites or regions
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Entry level • Ex Awareness for personnel who need basic knowledge but do not undertake Ex work • Ex Foundation for personnel operating under close supervision in the workplace |
Core practitioner • Variants cover Installation, inspection and maintenance activities • Unit variations for electrical, instrumentation and mechanical equipment • Unit variations to cover gas, vapour or dust environments • Industry specific units for Maritime, Fuel Filling Stations and Water Treatment |
Advanced • Responsible person/ Duty Holder • Application Design |
Supporting contractor and supply chain assurance
Large operators require consistent competence standards across contractors, subcontractors and supply chains. CompEx provides a common framework that helps organisations:
- Specify competence expectations clearly
- Benchmark contractor capability
- Reduce variation between suppliers
- Support mobilisation across multiple regions
- Improve confidence during audits and project delivery
- Demonstrate alignment with internal engineering standards
Competence assurance extends beyond direct employees into the wider supply chain. Ultimate responsibility remains with the asset owner. CompEx provides a consistent, impartial and credible benchmark.
Organisations we’re proud to work with
