the PeoPle - OPERC - Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research ...

SPECIAL REPORT
After ten years of loyal
service on OPERC
executive, Mr Barry
Robinson, MBE, a
founder member of
OPERC, has decided to
step down and retire from
his duties as OPERC
Chief Examiner. During
his tenure, Barry helped
to grow one the world’s
leading professional
bodies for plant and
equipment science and
will be sorely missed.
Barry sharing his knowledge of the
OPERC-safetynet system
30
April 2011
oPerc extends
a fond farewell
to Mr Barry robinson MBe
Barry has been an important part of
OPERC from the very beginnings of the
association back in the year 2000. It
was at this time that he met Professor
David Edwards with who he helped to
establish what is now one of the largest
professional trade associations for plant
and equipment managers.
Barry has been involved with every
important development within OPERC,
from the OPERC-Safetynet system, to
the production of key industry guidance
publications, establishment of the handarm
vibration test centre (HAVTEC),
the lifelong learning zone, production of
safety alerts, posters.... the list goes on.
He has also become a familiar figure at
the OPERC conferences which he has
actively supported and participated in.
Out of all of these areas the one that
Barry had most involvement with was
the Safetynet on-line health and safety
test system, which is now used by
major companies across the United
Kingdom. Improving the knowledge
and competence of plant operators,
and reducing the number of accidents
involving plant and equipment by raising
the standards of health and safety, are
subjects very close to his heart. Barry
was there at the birth of the system,
contributing to its design, development
“everyone’s talking about it!”
and initial trialling. He supported the work
to map the test against NVQ standards
and was also involved with creating the
OPERC lifelong learning zone containing
materials to support the test.
In the New Year’s honour’s list 2005 the
following text appeared ‘Barry Robinson,
Chief Examiner and Past President
of OPERC. For services to Health
and Safety in Quarries.’ This fantastic
achievement speaks volumes about
Barry, a man of passion, honesty and
integrity.
On announcing his retirement formally to
fellow Executive members Barry said:
“I am pleased to say that the time in life
has come that we all work so long and
hard for. I started working in the industry
at the tender age of 17 and now some
48 years later and many stone heavier
I think I have done enough. After many
hours of deliberation I have decided to
step down from the OPERC Executive
and position as Chief Examiner of
Safetynet with immediate effect. When
David and myself set out the OPERC
vision and objectives it all seemed a
large task to undertake. Some of the
objectives have been met very well and
some have still to be started if finances
permit.
“OPERC has in my opinion, one of
the finest safety training tools any
organisation could ever wish to use.
I could not have operated my training
programmes and NVQ Centre without
Safetynet, the lifelong learning modules
and the OPERC publication to use as
a training need analysis and reference
material. Full credit goes to David
[Edwards], Philippa [Spittle] and Gary
[Holt] for pulling everything together.
Having achieved recognition from
industry and the HSE it has been a
pleasure to be involved with.”