Download pdf - OPERC

expert Opinion
This article was outlined by Mr Barry Robinson, MBE,
Specialist Trainer in Quarrying and Construction Plant and Equipment.
Barry was awarded the MBE for his services to health and safety in the quarrying industry.
The Scope of Performance for
this Performance Criteria, gives the
work-based evidence as:
“Work skills to: fit, attach, set up,
adjust, secure, check, confirm
and remove.
Use and maintain: hand tools,
ancillary equipment and/or
accessories.
Prepare plant or machinery for
operational performance to given
working instructions relating
to: set up, functional checks,
operational performance, safety
and security.”
Further, within the Scope of
Knowledge and Understanding
for Methods of Work, we find:
“Application of knowledge for
safe work practices, procedures,
skills and transference of
competence, relating to the area
of work and materials used, to:
identify the characteristics
of the plant or machinery
appropriate to the plant
operation
complete pre-use checks
select ancillary equipment and/
or accessories
prepare, set up and adjust
for operational requirements,
safety and security
complete functional checks
operate and move plant or
machinery
move and remove ancillary
equipment and/or accessories
can use hand tools, ancillary
equipment and accessories.”
So quick hitches, and importantly
other safety devices, are covered and
there are good quality resources that
can be used to signpost industry to
best practice, such as the OPERC
publication ‘Guidance on the Safe Use
of Excavator Quick-hitch Devices’*. It
is quite true that the exact word ‘quickhitch’
is not specifically mentioned
in the text within the standards, but
then again neither are many of the
other types of safety device / feature
available for a wide range of plant and
machinery. What about:
quick couplers fitted to wheel
loaders;
reversing systems (radar and sonar
systems);
articulation frame locking link
systems; and
pencil beam mirrors or convex
mirrors – the list could go on.
There are two routes that can be
followed in this situation. Either
you interpret the standards as a
generic framework that provides a
minimum level of conformance when
assessing an operator (taking into
account the machine, configuration
and all attachments) or the bodies
setting the NOS must attempt to add
in every conceivable safety device
that could be fitted to a machine. It
is far better to convey the general
principles of assessment and
activities/knowledge that should be
covered than to develop alternatives
that are ephemeral, unworkable and
unsustainable - hence, the move to
risk assessment in the first place!
Referring back to quick hitch devices
once more, industrial practitioners
would consider that there are 3 types
of hitch available – manual, semiautomatic
and fully-automatic . For
the latter two types, there can be
numerous variations of each type, for
example, some fully-automatic hitches
can be single pin or dual pin locking.
Even hitches of the same specific type
could vary in terms or safe operation
and maintenance. It would be absurd
to think that the NOS should address
each of these - instructors should use
information supplied by the original
equipment or hitch manufacturer to
ensure that the operator can safely
operate the machine and hitch in
question. When utilising a new
hitch type familiarisation training
should be administered once again,
either in-house, externally or by the
manufacturer.
S/NVQs are not training, rather
they ensure that the candidate can
demonstrate competence following an
assessment. The assessment itself
is there to offer positive contributions
and feedback to the operator about
their ability in order for them to
improve upon that ability if needed
during the assessment process. The
integrity of the assessor, internal
and external verifiers and centre
management are the key to quality.
If professionals have either misread,
mis-interpreted or even failed to spot
that quick hitches are covered as part
of a thorough S/NVQ process, then
they have not understood the NOS.
Remember, S/NVQs are the only
government recognised qualification
of competence at this juncture
and although not mandatory in
all industries, those who choose
not to follow this minimum level
of qualification must ensure that
they meet the minimum level of
conformance.
*available to purchase from the OPERC
bookshop (www.operc.com) or free to
download from the Hewden website at:
www.hewden.co.uk/eh_and_s/health_and_
safety.asp.
innovation in design
innovation in design
June 2009
25