Get competent with the CPA
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has published an industry guide to ensuring that plant operators are fully competent.
The guide, ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ was produced with the backing of the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) were also involved in its production.
It sets out to clarify methods for employers to manage, develop and record employees' competences to operate all types of plant, including mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs). It
sets out a four-stage process for managing operators’ competence: selection, training and assessment, developing competence and life-long learning.
Discussing the document, Heather Bryant, HM chief inspector of construction and chair of the HSE’s Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC), said: “The advice in this document is straightforward, comprehensive and easy to adopt. It has been prepared by industry representatives to demonstrate realistic means of complying with legal duties. However, following the guidance is not compulsory and may go further than the minimum you need to do in order to comply with the law. I thank those who have been involved in its preparation and commend the guidance to anyone who employs people who work with construction plant and those with an interest in such matters.”
