Skip to main content

CPA publishes new ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ guidance document

A new Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group guidance document on ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ has been published by the UK-based CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association). The new ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ document 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 o
May 19, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
A new Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group guidance document on ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ has been published by the UK-based CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association).

The new ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ document 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.

Launching the new guidance publication, the CPA stressed how 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.

Heather Bryant, HM Chief Inspector of Construction and Chair of the Health and Safety Executive’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.”

Achieving the necessary competence to carry out a particular task is a four stage process: Selection, Training and Assessment, Developing Competence and the final stage, Life Long Learning. Each of these stages is explained in detail in the CPA document.  

Kevin Minton, Director of CPA, said, “The new guidance was written to help promote understanding and sharing knowledge in an area which is often seen as difficult to discuss. I thank those industry bodies and individuals that were involved in its preparation – the strength of the guidance is founded on their experience and cooperative input.”

“Competence to Operate Construction Plant” is available for free download from the CPA website at %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal http://cpa.uk.net/sfpsg/#Competence Website: http://cpa.uk.net/sfpsg/#Competence false http://cpa.uk.net/sfpsg/#Competence false false%>

Related Content

  • reVUE publish White Paper on reducing risk on UK roads
    April 23, 2014
    reVUE, a Manchester, UK-based risk management company providing evidence based driver intervention training, has published a White Paper on the impact of combining technology and behavioural coaching to reduce risk on Britain’s roads. The firm recently commissioned a research project which produced encouraging findings in relation to the impact of an in-vehicle recording device on improving driver behaviour. This was said to be particularly prevalent when implemented with a corresponding coaching intervent
  • High court drama expected at Highways UK event, NEC, Birmingham
    November 7, 2016
    What happens when a highways services employee is prosecuted for failing to follow established safety procedures? How would a courtroom drama unfold for the accused and the employer?
  • Don’t forget public transport in the fight against ebola
    October 21, 2014
    International agencies and national governments have overlooked how effective local transport providers can be in helping stop the spread of ebola in affected Central African companies. Much advice has been given to airlines about how to clean and disinfect their airplanes and to hand out advice. But the majority of people in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria don’t take airplanes. They take local transport, said Heather Allen, programme director for sustainable transport at the London-based Transpo
  • UK employers urged to ‘tune in’ to RSW 2013 to help save lives
    July 22, 2013
    UK employers, especially those with staff who drive for work, are being urged to sign up now to take part in this year's national Road Safety Week. Safety-conscious company bosses who answer the sign-up call will receive free action pack to help them promote life-saving messages to staff and the wider community. The call-out comes shortly after new UK government and police statistics revealed five people are killed and 63 are seriously injured every day on UK roads. One in four serious road casualties are i