Competence assessment accreditation

THE Institute of Quarrying has been informed by the national training organization, EPIC NTO, that the standards for national vocational qualifications in ‘Health, safety and environmental management in quarries’ have been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

The accreditation of these standards, derived from the Institute’s competence scheme, is a necessary precursor to the submission of an application for three qualifications (NVQs) at levels 3, 4 and 5. The submission will be made by the EPIC Awarding Body, which will form a partnership with the Institute to make the awards. It is anticipated that the qualifications will be approved at the end of the first quarter of 2002.

Following a lengthy development process, Jack Berridge, executive director of the Institute of Quarrying, said he was delighted with the accreditation of the standards for the NVQs. ‘While I am obviously pleased with the national recognition this will provide, it is equally important that the authorities have recognized that the quarrying industry has special problems in respect of its health, safety and environmental responsibilities which can be properly addressed only by the implementation of training systems specific to these needs,’ he commented.