Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive Vocational Qualifications for Health & Safety in Agriculture Presented by Alastair Mitchell

Background How do we achieve significant reductions in accidents and ill-health? HSC/HSE and other stakeholders believe there needs to be a fundamental change in attitude to H & S in agriculture Good health and safety management is an integral part of good business management Address the culture of unwise risk taking that exists in the industry

Key elements in bringing about change are: raising competence of farmers to manage health & safety (ii) giving workers knowledge of key hazards/risks/controls Many awards in the Agricultural sector include elements of Health & Safety but little reference to it as a management or managerial process

New Qualifications Three levels accredited by QCA: Level 2 Certificate in Working Safely in Agriculture/Horticulture Level 3 Certificate in Controlling Risks to Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture Level 4 Certificate in Managing Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture

Qualifications available either through NPTC/City &Guilds or Lantra Awards Both organisations are recognised Awarding Bodies approved by the regulatory body the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Candidates contact approved Assessment Centres to register for assessments (either through NPTC/City & Guilds or Lantra Awards) Quality assurance is through NPTC or Lantra Awards examiners marking the independently set exams and assignments, thus giving the qualifications a consistent standard wherever taken

Level 2 Certificate in Working Safely in Agriculture/Horticulture 1 unit with 10 learning outcomes Available to candidates aged 14 years and over 20 GLH Focus on the identification of farm hazards and typical control measures Training course available through Lantra Awards No formal prerequisites/entry requirements Registration fee = £40 per candidate NPTC and Lantra Awards registration fees and question banks are identical

Assessment – Level 2 Single multiple choice test 30 questions 1 hour Specific to agriculture and horticulture and are relevant to all candidates NPTC offers a GOLA test (Global On-line Assessment) - Provisional results are automatically generated and given to candidates at the end of their test - Results are then confirmed after 48 hours Lantra Awards offers a paper based multiple choice test -Papers returned to Lantra Awards -Results are then confirmed within 10 working days

Level 3 Certificate in Controlling Risks to Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture 2 units with learning outcomes Available to candidates 16 years and over 30 GLH Training course will be available through Lantra Awards (on-line package under development) Registration fee = £126 per candidate. NPTC and Lantra Awards registration fees and question banks are identical

Assessment Level 3 Unit 1 - Multiple choice test 30 questions 1 hour Unit 2 - Work-based assignment Specific to own place of work/ college unit Available from NPTC/Lantra Awards Marked by NPTC/Lantra Awards examiners Verified by Awarding Body verifiers Results submitted to Awarding Body by examiners

Unit 2: Work-based Assignment Assignment specific to the candidates place of work covering: Background information on the farm/horticultural holding and candidates role in the business Carrying out a task specific risk assessment on workplace transport and one other work activity, eg manual handling task Communicating risk assessment findings to people in the workplace Selecting the right equipment to do the job Appointing a competent contractor

Level 4 Certificate in Managing Risks to Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture 2 units Available to candidates 18 years and over 30 GLH Registration fee = £136 per candidate. NPTC and Lantra Awards registration fees and question banks are identical

Assessment Level 4 Unit 1 – Written examination paper 7 questions 2 hours Exam conditions Unit 2 - Work-based assignment Specific to own place of work/ college unit Available from NPTC/Lantra Awards Marked by NPTC/Lantra Awards examiners Verified by Awarding Body verifiers Results submitted to Awarding Body by examiners

Unit 4: Work-based Assignment Assignment specific to the candidates place of work covering: Key elements of successful health & safety management Protecting the health & safety of workers Standards of training & competence Communicating information outside the business Creating a positive health & safety culture

Bespoke programmes have been developed to support Certificates in Health and Safety Agriculture/Horticulture: Working Safely in Agriculture/Horticulture available now Controlling Risks to Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture available from summer 2007 Managing Health and Safety in Agriculture/Horticulture aim to be developed by Autumn 2007

No compulsory requirement to use bespoke programmes however advantages are: Can be covered during student induction and throughout their course at college Consistency in delivery Access to learning material (HSE leaflets, booklets, workbooks, power point presentations). Quality assured by independent body Reduces burden on lecturers to source own material Enables lecturers to keep up to date with changes in legislation and best practice Provides opportunities to network with other lecturers/instructors

Drivers for uptake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Qualifications are eligible for CPD points under schemes such as NRoSO, BASIS, PIPR Attendance at training courses = 12 points Successful completion of the qualification = 3 points Link to farm assurance schemes Insurance Reduced claims from improved management of H & S Premiums adjusted to reflect better management of risk. Work in progress with insurers to offer discounted insurance to farmers who undertake the qualifications

Drivers for uptake Land-based Colleges Students to undertake Level 2 pre-placement Learning outcomes to be integrated into curricula Funding available Incorporated within NCs and ANCs from 2008/09? Apprenticeships VQs to be recognised as technical certificates

Promotional work Land-based Colleges HSE Seminar for colleges Oct 2007 Lantra Awards and NPTC road shows NAPAEO/LANDEX Publications NAAC newsletter Lantra SSC Industry Groups newsletters NRoSO newsletter Assured Farm Standards newsletter Farmers Weekly PIPR