New safety passport scheme from SPA
Safety Pass Alliance launch new and updated safety passport scheme for the quarrying sector
A COMPANY that has helped prevent thousands of industrial accidents by inventing safety passports is launching a new scheme for the quarry sector.
Safety Pass Alliance (SPA) Ltd have issued more than 140,000 safety passports to people working in a wide range of industry sectors throughout the UK over the past 12 years.
‘The quarry industry was one of the first sectors to embrace safety passports,’ said Ray Gibbs, one of the pioneers of safety passports and managing director of SPA.
‘About 10 years ago we set up a steering group consisting of some of the biggest companies in the industry – such as Tarmac and CEMEX – to create a scheme that reflected the specialist health and safety needs of the industry. More than 10,000 safety passports have since been issued.
‘Now, still working with companies representing the industry, we have overhauled the scheme to reflect not only legislative changes but also to incorporate the latest information from the quarry sector.’
The quarry passport scheme involves two days training. The first core day is the same for all industry sectors, and the second day is specific to health and safety issues in the quarry industry. It includes modules on danger areas, mobile plant, hazardous operations, excavations and confined spaces, and health risks in quarries.
‘Working with the industry has been extremely beneficial,’ said Mr Gibbs. ‘For example, our new scheme includes the latest information and identification of high-risk areas in quarries.’
He added that SPA’s 40-strong team of training providers saves costs by holding safety passport training at companies’ own premises, rather than requiring them to attend a training centre.
The passport scheme is primarily for employees of contractor companies who visit the sites of major companies. Successful candidates are able to prove their awareness of basic principles of health and safety in a specific industry sector workplace by showing their safety passport.
The safety passport is a robust and secure card – similar to a UK driving licence – that displays a tamper-proof photograph of the successful trainee. The photocard features a special ultra-secure ‘holocote’ finish to prevent fraud.
‘The passport scheme benefits the bottom line of both the client and contractor as it reduces the time needed to be spent on site inductions. It also provides the peace of mind that only a common, recognized and validated standard of training can provide,’ said Mr Gibbs, a Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) who has worked in the health and safety industry for more than 40 years.
