Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 – 30 November 2023 ‒ UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Water of Malaysia, organized a three-day workshop that aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to become effective master assessors of good servicing practices in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) servicing sector.
Historically, good servicing practices have placed great emphasis on minimizing refrigerant leaks to comply with hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) phase-out plans and the adoption of alternatives that are not flammable. However, under the Kigali Amendment regime, new lower-GWP refrigerants with properties such as flammability, toxicity, or higher pressure require RAC technicians to gain additional skills and knowledge to safely handle these climate-friendly alternatives.
For this reason, extending good servicing practices to encompass the safe handling of these new refrigerants is crucial for Article 5 (developing) countries to meet their Montreal Protocol obligations and achieve sustainable cooling. Since training alone is insufficient and skill acquisition must be independently verified to meet industry standards and best practices, effective certification schemes in Article 5 countries should prioritize technician competency assessments over mere training participation and competency-based certifications are critical to supplement the training on good servicing practices. Developing and implementing robust certification schemes for technicians, alongside strengthening national institutions responsible for such systems, including those focused on energy efficiency and safety, is therefore the path forward for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in the context of the Kigali Amendment.
In support of regional efforts, UNEP OzonAction collaborated with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Water of Malaysia to host a training that aims to empower master assessors in Southeast and South Asia to build robust competency-based certification schemes for RAC technicians in handling refrigerants safely and effectively within the Montreal Protocol framework. The training was attended by 40 participants (32 Male/8 Female) from 10 countries in the Southeast and South Asia Networks.
“This is the first training workshop on competency-based assessment in the context of the Montreal Protocol that has been organized for the Asia and Pacific region. Although the concept of Montreal Protocol competency-based certification has been discussed over the years, there are challenges in launching competency-based assessments for technicians who have been working in the servicing sector. This training enables participants to understand the pedagogy of competency-based assessment on good servicing practices particularly the safety in handling flammable refrigerants, which can be applied for the national programme,” said Mr. Ng Wen Bin, Senior Lecturer, University Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia."
While technician training focuses on educational techniques for knowledge and skill development in good servicing practices, competency-based certification focuses on defining the skills to be assessed and the methods of evaluating technician competency. The training programme was structured to provide both theoretical and practical components. Theoretical sessions were dedicated to raising awareness of participants on the principles of competency-based assessments for good servicing practices, followed by practical sessions where nominated master assessors gained hands-on experience through simulated assessment exercises.
Participants expressed that this programme presents an invaluable opportunity for their countries to deepen their understanding of competency-based assessment in the RAC sector, empowering them to further strengthen their assessment skills and techniques.
”…the experience was not only informative but also wonderfully motivating, and I am confident that the knowledge learned will be invaluable in my career development. The speaker's experience was great, and the hands-on workshops were particularly illuminating. I appreciate the investment in my professional development. Your assistance is greatly appreciated, and I am driven to contribute more efficiently to the success of our team. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the recent workshop training. The experience was quite valuable and improved my viewpoint on our academia and industry.” Mr. Muhammad Muslim, TVET Management Trainer & Assessor, Pakistan."
UNEP CAP team expressed its sincere gratitude to the Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Water of Malaysia for co-hosting and identifying the University of Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia to deliver the intensive training workshop on competency-based assessment, which exemplifies UNEP's ongoing commitment to supporting Article 5 countries in implementing the Montreal Protocol and transitioning to sustainable cooling technologies – marking a significant step forward in ensuring safe and sustainable refrigeration practices across the region.
The meeting was organized by UNEP OzonAction CAP, Asia and the Pacific Office as part of its approved 2023 Work Programme under the Multilateral Fund.
For more information;
Ms. Elisa Rim
Montreal Protocol Programme Management Officer – South Asia Countries Network
UNEP CAP, Asia and Pacific Office
Email: elisa.rim@un.org
Mr. Pipat Poopeerasupong
Montreal Protocol Programme Management Officer Southeast Asia/Pacific Island Countries Network
UNEP CAP, Asia and Pacific Office
Email: poopeerasupong@un.org
