Training in working at height has become a vital necessity in a number of industries, now that working at height is the biggest cause of death in the British workplace. So it’s great news that last year a record 60,000 people completed a tower training course at an approved PASMA training centre, a 20 per cent rise over the 50,000 the previous year.
The rise reflects the major contribution PASMA, the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association, and its members are making to the safety, competence and productivity of tower users.
PASMA is the leading trade body for the mobile access tower industry, representing manufacturers, suppliers and users. It not only provides and oversees the industry standard training scheme, but is a major publisher of safety-related information and guidance. The key is the safe and effective use of this versatile and increasingly popular piece of access equipment. Since PASMA first introduced its Towers for Users course back in 2005, it has trained more than 350,000 operatives to avoid the dangers that cause falls, such as inadequate risk assessments and unsafe scaffolding.
The PASMA PhotoCard, proof that the holder has been trained to best-practice standards based on the latest legislation and guidance, is now the only proof of competence accepted by many site managers and health and safety professionals.
PASMA training courses are on offer across the UK and Ireland through a network of about 400 approved training centres. A qualified and experienced team ensures that the high standards of PASMA training are maintained at all times.
PASMA Director of Training Stuart Hopkins, said: “By collating and distilling the collective knowledge and expertise of PASMA members, people who know and understand the equipment and speak the language, we have developed a course that is now recognised as the definitive benchmark for competency when working with towers.”
Courses on offer for 2013 include Towers for Users, Work at Height Essentials, Low Level Access, and AGRs for Towers for Users, a course on Advance Guardrail mobile towers. New courses for 2013 include Towers for Managers, Towers for Riggers and Towers on Stairs.