A new Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group guidance document on “Competence to Operate Construction Plant” has been published by the CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association).
It aims to clarify methods for employers to manage, develop and record employees’ competences to operate all types of plant. The HSE and CITB were key participants, alongside a wide range of other organisations. The guidance covers management of training and management of experience as well as management of competence.
Construction plant, in particular mobile plant, has the potential to cause fatalities and serious injury. Consequently it is essential that people who operate construction plant are competent to do so. The duty to ensure that plant operators are competent rests with their employer and the process of ensuring competence requires cooperation between employers, training providers and operators, all of whom have a significant part to play in the process.
“Competence to Operate Construction Plant” is available for free download from the CPA website at http://cpa.uk.net/sfpsg/#Competence
More in the next print edition of Plant & Civil Engineer.
