Carry out the inspection of explosive substances and/or articles

URN: COGESAKR5.04
Business Sectors (Suites): Explosives Substances and Articles: Maintenance
Developed by: Cogent
Approved: 2025

Overview

This standard covers the competences you need to carry out the inspection or surveillance* of explosive substances and/or articles (ESA) in accordance with approved procedures and practices.

You will be required to demonstrate that you can follow the correct operating specifications for the ESA being inspected, making the required inspections in the specified sequence and in an agreed timescale in accordance with approved procedures and practices.

This activity is likely to be undertaken by someone whose work role involves Ordnance, Munitions or Explosives (OME) work activities. This includes people working as explosives operatives in a safety and / or quality role. 

  • surveillance: monitoring, examining, stewardship.

This standard replaces COGESA 5.4 and COGESA 5.15


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

P1 work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, legislation and guidelines

P2 follow the correct operating specifications for the explosive articles being inspected

P3 establish the configuration of the explosive, substance or article

P4 ensure that the tools used are fit for purpose

P5 carry out inspections within the limits of your authority

P6 make the required inspections in the specified sequence and in an agreed timescale

P7 confirm that the inspection equipment meets the required operating specification

P8 report any instances where the equipment fails to meet the required operating performance after inspections

P9 maintain documentation in accordance with organizational procedures 

P10 maintain the requirements of confidentiality at all times

P11 comply with the appropriate quality standards


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

K1 the health, safety and environmental and other statutory legislation, regulations and safe working practices and procedures governing explosives and their implications for your area of work

K2 the relevance of personal protective equipment (PPE)

K3 the functioning, hazards and risks of the explosive substances and/or articles covered by the maintenance programme

K4 how to establish the correct specification and configuration 

K5 the company configuration management system and procedures

K6 the actions to be taken in response to an unplanned event 

K7 reporting lines and procedures

K8 the requirements of the maintenance task and procedures 

K9 the timescales involved

K10 the tools and test equipment to be used and how to use them 

K11 inspection methods and techniques as prescribed in the relevant documentation using the appropriate tools and in the correct sequence

K12 the risks associated with your work and their potential consequences

K13 the implications for the process or system, or the quality of the

different components within it.

K14 equipment operating and care and control procedures 

K15 the implications of test results

K16 the requirements of configuration activities your own level of authority 

K17 the requirements for confidentiality

K18 the relevant quality standards and compliance regime


Scope/range

1. Level and extent of responsibility: inspection of the lowest subassembly and routine testing; carrying out routine inspection tasks on complex systems under the supervisor’s direction.

2. Types of inspection procedures and activities: non-critical routine inspection of explosive articles; critical routine inspection where sign-off by a supervisor is required.


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2029

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Cogent

Original URN

This standard replaces COGESA 5.4 and COGESA 5.15

Relevant Occupations

Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Process, Plant and Machine Operatives, Science and Engineering Technicians, Science and Mathematics Science

SOC Code

3119

Keywords

inspect, inspection, surveillance, explosives, health and safety, statutory legislation