Under the HASWA ect 1974 everybody is accountable for prosecution. will this make Instructors and Training centres accountable if the candidates are passed and signed off so they gain the new qualified status. Then they have a serious accident because its a bit like learning to drive. (you start learning when you have passed.) The instructor has passed the candidate under the criteria and guidelines they have to adher to. The question is : WHO WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE for the incompetence? will it be the CISRS Training manager , The Instructor or The Training centres for working to Criteria?
Simon does not visit this site so i'll reply for him:
Competent and Qualified is a suggestion by a industry body to the HSE to consider so we may be jumping the gun here until its considered. If you feel this is wrong then write to the HSE or the SCCR could do this on your behalf as every idea has good and bad in it.
If you have read the Lofsted report where this review of the Work at Height has been commissioned it leans towards clarity of what is work at height more than training because some people think standing on a kerb is work at height, working on the bottom rung of a ladder is work at height. The report stated that some managers do not know what is working at height and what isn't hence more clarity is needed in the review.
On the subject of training centres and instructors firstly how many driving instructors and examiners have been prosecuted for someone passing and killing themself in the first week, i would say none as you can pass today and if you have enough money be driving a ferrari tomorrow. Same as you can do a pavement gantry with beams 4-6m off the floor in a training centre today and be 40m up next week doing the same, would you be comfortable putting your new 19 year old part 2 in charge of that.
On the scaffolding side a good centre will provide the candidate's company with an assessment after they have been on their training, this will say whether they have been strong or weak in certain areas in a A-E format with comments, like a school report. It is up to the company to read this and know their strengths. The training centre trains and assesses through QCF and Courses, if they make the grade then they pass, we have had numerous failures and failed 5 apprentices recently, they have to resit the course and this is not the first time.
In my work as an expert witness we have before today received copies of test papers and training courses to assess to see if they met the criteria as the inspector has had a collapse or someone is injured. It may not be CISRS, it may be done by an instructor that does not meet the CISRS requirements, then they may be taken to task.
However if the instructor is experienced, advanced scaffolder, A1 assessor and instructor qualified to PTLLS minimum and teaching to a recognised course specification that meets national standards then the chances are slim.
Ian
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