IEC TS 60079-44: Finally a Systematic Approach to Assessing Competence in Explosion Protection

Anyone working in hazardous areas must be competent — so far, so obvious. However, as soon as contractors, external service providers, or different specialist roles are involved, this apparent certainty quickly turns into an organizational challenge.

For a forklift driver, the situation is straightforward: the operator checks the forklift license, verifies the instruction and training, and can determine whether the person is authorized to perform the task. In explosion protection, this level of transparency has traditionally been far more difficult to achieve. Operators often had to rely on individual training certificates, practical experience, or internal assessments. This is exactly where IEC TS 60079-44 comes in.

For the first time, the technical specification systematically describes how competencies in explosion protection can be assessed, documented, and organizationally classified. Importantly, it is not limited to electricians or inspectors, but applies to all persons who carry out tasks or hold responsibilities in hazardous areas.

In many companies, the same question repeatedly arises: how can an operator actually know whether a person is truly qualified to work in a hazardous area?

The challenge lies in the fact that explosion protection is not a standalone core qualification. An electrician must first be a qualified electrical professional before acquiring additional expertise in electrical explosion protection. The same applies to mechanics, planners, maintenance personnel, or engineers. Competence in hazardous areas is therefore always built upon an existing professional qualification.

This is precisely the concept addressed by IEC TS 60079-44. The specification makes it clear that competence in explosion protection cannot be viewed in isolation, but must always be considered in relation to the person’s professional role and activities.

This creates a significant shift in perspective: the focus is no longer on individual training courses, but on identifying the competencies actually required for a specific task.

IEC TS 60079-44 belongs to the IEC 60079 series, but it is not a conventional standard. It is a so-called Technical Specification.

Documents of this type are often developed when a topic already has strong practical relevance but is still evolving or lacks full international consensus. Although the specification already undergoes the usual international coordination processes, it does not yet have the status of a fully recognized state-of-the-art technical standard.

This is understandable, especially in the field of competence management. Qualification requirements often evolve much faster than traditional standardization processes. Companies still need guidance, particularly when dealing with international projects, contractors, or operator responsibilities.

IEC TS 60079-44 aims to close exactly this gap.

One particularly interesting aspect of the specification is its approach of thinking in terms of “roles” rather than traditional professions. These roles describe specific tasks and responsibilities within an organization.

For example, the specification addresses people responsible for hazardous area classification, system design, installation, inspections, or plant operation. It also considers activities outside traditional engineering roles. Even security staff, cleaning personnel, or contractor employees may have relevant roles if they have access to hazardous areas.

At first glance, this may seem unusual, but in practice it is entirely logical. A security employee does not need to be capable of designing hazardous area installations, but they should understand why a standard radio device or an unsuitable flashlight may present a problem in certain zones.

For this reason, IEC TS 60079-44 always evaluates competence in relation to the specific task involved.

One of the strongest aspects of the specification is its definition of competence. Competence is not simply described as possessing knowledge, but as the ability to apply knowledge and skills in a way that safely achieves the intended result.

This distinction is critical. In practice, it is not enough to know standards theoretically or to have attended a seminar once. Operators must be able to rely on people applying their knowledge safely under real operating conditions.

This also explains why attendance certificates alone are often insufficient for reliably assessing actual competence.

Perhaps the most important change introduced by IEC TS 60079-44 is the shift in focus away from individual training courses toward a complete competence management system.

Companies are expected to systematically define which competencies are required for specific roles, how these competencies are developed, and how they are maintained over time. Many larger organizations already use digital training and qualification systems that assign employees to specific roles. Depending on their responsibilities, different training and documentation requirements apply.

The specification adopts exactly this principle.

A plant engineer requires different competencies than a technician. An inspector requires different evidence than an operator. The requirements are no longer based purely on job titles, but on responsibilities and activities.

For the first time, this creates a relatively clear organizational framework that enables operators to assess competence requirements in a more structured manner.

IEC TS 60079-44 does not prescribe a single rigid certification system. Instead, it allows different forms of competence verification.

These may include internal qualifications provided by employers, manufacturer-specific product training, or independent certifications issued by external organizations. Existing qualifications such as “competent persons for inspections” or international personnel certifications can also continue to play a meaningful role.

This flexibility makes the specification highly practical. Companies do not need to replace their existing systems entirely but can integrate existing qualification models into a structured competence approach.

The real strength of IEC TS 60079-44 lies less in defining new training programs and more in its organizational approach.

For the first time, operators are provided with a framework that helps answer a central question in a much more structured way: is this person allowed to perform this activity in a hazardous area?

This question is likely to become increasingly important, especially when dealing with contractors, international projects, and complex operator structures.

IEC TS 60079-44 does not provide a simple checklist. What it does provide is a framework for organizing competence in explosion protection in a transparent, systematic, and sustainable way — and this is exactly what has often been missing in practice until now.