PASMA

PASMA Installation/Erection and inspection of Standard Mobile Aluminium Towers The Work at Height Regulations 2005, require that the assembly, dismantling or alteration of Mobile Access Towers should only be undertaken by a competent person, or if being trained, under the supervision of a competent person.   

A competent person is a person who can demonstrate that they have sufficient professional or technical training, knowledge, actual experience, and authority* to enable them to:-

a.      carry out their assigned duties at the level of responsibility allocated to them;
b.      understand any potential hazards related to the work (or equipment) under consideration;
c.      detect any technical defects or omissions in that work (or equipment), recognise any implications for health and safety caused by those defects or omissions, and  be able to specify a remedial action to mitigate those implications.

*Note: “authority” here means delegated authority to the individual by his employer to carry out a certain function or duty
Going onto or assembling a mobile access tower will involve working at height.
The Advisory Committee on Work at Height Training (ACWAHT) indicate that for anyone who works at height, the above definition of a competent person implies:
·                   To know and understand the specific legal duties under the Work at Height Regulations which apply to them as an individual
·                   To understand who controls their activity and the lines of communication to use
·                   To understand the principles of fall protection that the Regulations require to be used
·                   To be able to recognise safe and unsafe situations / activities
·                   To understand how to deal with the hazards associated with the task allocated to them
·                   To have adequate training in the correct use and limitations of any work equipment allocated to them for the task
·                   To understand the need for and the ability to check the adequacy of the safety equipment allocated to them
·                   If that equipment has been issued to them on a personal basis, an understanding of the correct procedure for storage, maintenance and inspection
·                   To understand safe procedures of work and state the correct procedure for the task, the emergency (including rescue) procedures in place for the work and their role in it
·                   To know the procedure for reporting any defects, hazards or unsafe procedures they detect PASMA therefore sponsors training courses provided only by authorised training members. The training courses are based on a format and content agreed by all PASMA members and draws upon their collective, first-hand experience. Widely recognised and recommended by safety professionals, it provides successful delegates who pass a written and practical test with a competency certificate and an encapsulated, credit card sized PhotoCard. The Course content, instructors and training premises are subject to a rigorous assessment to ensure compliance with PASMA standards. After approval, all Registered Training Centres are subject to an ongoing audit regime conducted by  Regional Training Scheme Auditors to ensure that they continue to meet the high standards demanded by PASMA.