About CompEx
Our purpose is to support and promote workplace safety, by certifying personal competency.
CompEx safety and competency
CompEx is the international scheme for competency validation and certification of personnel who work in explosive atmospheres. Through a network of independent training and assessment centres the CompEx scheme supports practitioners in a range of industrial sectors including oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing and utilities.
The Scheme was developed over 25 years ago to provide the UK oil and gas sector with credible assurance of the transferable skills and competency of electrical and mechanical technicians and engineers operating in hazardous areas. Since that time CompEx has continued to develop, incorporating a range of competency qualifications to embrace a diverse range of roles and industrial settings. You can find out more about what we do by watching the video below:
CompEx history
The CompEx Scheme is the result of Lord Cullen’s investigation into the Piper Alpha tragedy, which killed 167 oil rig workers on 6th July 1988 off the coast of Aberdeen. This tragic event is considered to be the world’s deadliest oil rig accident. Lord Cullen’s report led to more than 100 recommendations that transformed the North Sea oil and gas industry into a global leader of safety within these hazardous environments.
In 1993, the CompEx Scheme was launched and has seen phenomenal success since the first centre was opened in 1994. After 10 years, the scheme celebrated the milestone of certificating 10,000 candidates for Gas and Vapour. Now that figure has risen to over 100,000 candidate certificates, a continued success that ensures a safer future for many thousands of workers around the world.
On 22nd November 2018, CompEx was awarded the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration (APEA) Milestone Award at the APEA Awards for celebrating 25 years of increasing safety in explosive atmosphere workplaces.
Governance
CompEx Certification Limited is a private limited company and was set up on 17th January 1989. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the JTL.
The company is administered by a Board of Directors which is made up of a Chairman, three non-executive Directors and two executive Directors. The Board meets quarterly.
There are no formal Board sub-committees although a Technical Advisory Council (TAC) provides subject matter expertise and industry insight to the Board. The membership of the TAC is set out in the CompEx Scheme Operating Manual (JT7501), and the independent Chair is appointed by the Board of CompEx Certification Limited. The TAC Chair is invited to the quarterly Board meetings to report on the activities of the TAC and provide advice as required.
The Board delegates the day to day operations of CompEx Certification Limited to the Executive Director. The Executive Director reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and ultimately to the Chief Executive Officer of JTL.
Company status
CompEx Certification Limited (trading as CompEx) is part of the JTL Group. It was acquired in 2014 and is a private limited company. It is registered at Stafford House, 120-122 High Street, Orpington, Kent BR6 0JS (No: 02336110)
