The Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association or PASMA for short is a body that has been in existence since 1974. Its predominant work has been improving the safety for those working on scaffolds and towers in the construction and decorating industry. The importance of safety when working at height cannot be underestimated, ensuring all workers who use scaffolds have had PASMA training is a vital part of ensuring this safety. Currently a PASMA certificate is a vital element for all who work at height.

Since 2005 when the Work at Height regulations came into effect PASMA training has become even more important. The body have worked towards designing their training schedules around changes in legislation to ensure all regulatory compliance issues are settled effectively. By constantly adapting to changes, the association have secured their position at the forefront of health and safety matters pertaining to scaffold and access tower usage.

PASMA have worked closely with health and safety executives to devise codes of practise that ensure workers at height have efficient and effective protocols that work towards a safer environment. Training modules will normally broach the subjects of safe usage and ways to minimise the risks of falling. In addition, those who undergo training are made aware of the dangers that working at height can create. Because of the association’s work, they are consulted when the government releases new pieces of legislation.

PASMA do not purely conduct training courses. Association members regularly audit and evaluate how safety procedures are being maintained whilst also looking into new developments in the world of scaffolding. This is one of the most important tasks carried out by PASMA, by having a presence in working areas they are able to pick up on any issues that could be incorporated into the codes of practise.

With so many industries using scaffolding and towers this element of the association’s work is essential to maintaining safety. For instance, guidelines in one industry may not necessarily suit another; by having operatives on the ground who can pick up on these differences it is possible to create bespoke training modules suited to any particular industry. In addition, by having a network of affiliated members, PASMA is able to reach the widest audience possible to deliver its safety message.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 have meant that at all times it is essential that a competent person is on site to ensure procedures are being followed and unsafe working methods are being avoided. This competent person has always had extensive training and will be certificated by the association; this means that there is always a knowledgeable person who can give workers instruction to maintain safety. Fundamentally the competent person must be present at the times when scaffolding rigs are constructed, altered or dismantled. These times normally hold the greatest risk so understandably the legislation ensures that the tasks are carried out safely.

As liability is now a major concern of all site managers the situation created by the increased regulation has cleared up discrepancies with working methods. PASMA have helped in this process and today, as a site manager it is your duty to ensure all workers have had suitable training. Naturally accidents will always happen when working with scaffolds, thanks to the work of the association however the instances of injury of death should be kept to a minimum.

The Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association; known to those in the industry as PASMA has existed for over thirty years as a body controlling working standards. It continuing mission has been to improve the safety of those working at height and more specifically those working on mobile access equipment. The training programmes developed by PASMA have done a great deal in improving standards within many industries. The result of the training; an official PASMA photo card means that the holder is able to oversee the use, assembly and dismantling of access equipment all over the land.

Naturally PASMA possess the best knowledge when it comes to working with access equipment, hence its training has been focussed towards safety issues and reducing the numbers of deaths and injuries on sites. In 2005 Work at Height Regulations were released by the government to create a legal determination of the responsibilities of both employers and employees when it comes to working at height. Due to this legislation PASMA has had to adapt it training programmes to meet the needs of government regulations. In addition the body also regulates the use of equipment through auditing processes. The ultimate objective is to make the use of access equipment safer for all.

Access towers are used in all manner of industries, from window cleaning through to decorating and construction. It is thanks to the training programmes that these industries now have a uniform safety procedure whenever a worker is carrying out tasks at height. Members of the association include manufacturers meaning that it can actively work towards making equipment safer whilst taking a pincer approach to training and safe usage.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 ensure that any assembly, erection, use and dismantling of access equipment will require a competent person in situ carrying out the task. Thankfully the completion of a PASMA certified training programme means that operatives will be deemed as competent in the eyes of the law. For those who use access equipment regularly, training is a necessity, ensuring that safety regulations are met at all times.

Competency is defined as anyone with sufficient training that is able to show a professional level of knowledge concerned with access equipment usage. Part of this competency includes recognising risks such as overhanging wires or areas of loose debris; ensuring that workers are always kitted out with appropriate safety gear such as hard hats and harnesses is also part of this. In addition, the competent person should be able to recognise any potential problems with the equipment such as damage and unstable footing.

Training will normally be available at two levels, basic an advanced. While basic programmes will leave the inductee with a level of competency, advanced courses give the participant a far more all encompassing knowledge base. This will allow them to understand the issues pertaining to the use of chimney scaffolds, cantilever access towers and equipment with bridging applications. It is also expected that after undergoing an advanced module, graduates will also have knowledge in first aid and the methods to isolate a fall site for further inspection.

As previously stated PASMA have been vital in creating safer working standards for those who utilise access equipment. Their expertise in the area also means that they are often consulted when the government wishes to adapt its regulations. This role ensures that training programmes are always up to date and meet the legal requirements enshrined in legislation.

PASMA is the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association, it sets out to promote the safe use and construction of alloy framed access towers. It has been in existence since the mid seventies and since that time has developed training programs for its members. Due to this long running heritage a PASMA certificate has become the industry standard in the access tower business.

The PASMA code of practice has become the authority on all safety and training issues concerned with access towers. Since the 2005 Work at Height Regulations came into force PASMA has updated its training to incorporate all the according principles. As well as performing training, PASMA have strived to regulate the industry through extensive auditing activities. Through this scheme the uniform performance of access tower construction has been created countrywide.

The use of access towers spans many industries and the work of PASMA has created safe working practices in all of them. From the aeronautical industry to pharmaceuticals, training programs have ensured guidelines and regulations are followed and users are fully aware of the risks and how to minimise any potential problems. The association is fundamentally made up those who manufacture mobile access towers as they have a vested interest in training users to perform tasks safely.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 has meant that PASMA have pursued an officially legislated safety and training standpoint. The regulations state that any assembly, dismantling or alterations to mobile access towers must be carried out by a competent person. It is through efficient PASMA training that enough competent persons are available to perform tasks in the industry.

A competent person can be defined as someone who can show a level of professional competency that ensures safety; providing proof of sufficient training is also a prerequisite of competency. Training ensures that hazards and risks can be recognised in good time ensuring those operating on or around a mobile access tower are kept safe at all times. A competent person should also be able to identify any problems with the way users are working and also any malfunctions with the machinery.

This PASMA qualified person should also be present during the use of a mobile access tower to ensure legal requirements are met at all times. Also the principles of fall protection should be understood to their full extent with recognition of safety procedures and working methods. Added to this a competent person should also be aware of what procedures to follow in the event of an emergency and how all equipment should be packaged and stored.

While the courses regulated by PASMA cover all manner of safety training aspects, they come in five distinct areas. The standard course covers all we have just discussed such as the assembly, movement and dismantling of towers as well as the stability issues that relate to these.

Advanced training courses include a specific look at the erection of roof towers and chimney scaffolds, the use of cantilever access towers and bridging units and the units with footways and stair access. These courses are designed to create competent persons for all manner of scaffolding tasks.

Since the Work at Height Regulations 2005, PASMA training courses have become vital for anyone wishing to use mobile access scaffolding safely and legally. With so much liability being argued, if a fall is to happen this is an unsurprising response to a critical situation.

If a competent person is always available to ensure scaffolding is used safely and efficiently falls and injuries should be kept to a minimum for those who work at height. Ensuring the safety of these workers is of prime importance, hence supervision by a competent person is a vital constituent of using mobile access towers.

A look at the training that the competent person should possess when people are working on a scaffold structure.

Most workers in the building trade will happily claim themselves competent in all manner of fields. Years of experience working in the industry tends to make many individuals consider themselves experts when in fact their expertise are not recognised by any official body. In terms of scaffold training, the issue of competency become vitally important as in most countries it is now the case that when using a scaffold, a competent person must be on site to overview the work and working conditions. This competent person is defined by the training they have had in the erection, use and dismantling of scaffold structures.

Competency is defined by the regulating body of scaffold use, PASMA. It is this body’s job to ensure there are enough people with sufficient training to uphold the rules and regulations of scaffold use. These regulations should be observed by those working on and around the scaffold and it is the responsibility of the competent person on site to keep all workers safe and negate, or at least minimise possible hazards.

Hazards form a fundamental part in the competent person’s scaffold training. It is their job to ensure that they are capable of identifying routine and existing hazards on the actual scaffold and also in the working area more generally. Training should also include ways in which to identify unsanitary working conditions and ways in which these hazards can be actively diminished through efficient corrective measures. This training gives the competent person authority over anyone else when it comes to the scaffold and immediate area; these are the two words those in the trade must remember; competency and authority.

This competent person does not have to be an external party and increasingly many in the trade are undergoing sufficient training to declare themselves as competent. At the erection of a scaffold, good practise ensures that an inspector will visit the site and assess the safety of the scaffold and the level of capability the competent person possesses. Not only is the knowledge of this person assessed in detail but their levels authority and how they put into action safety measures is also evaluated. The combination of competency with the relevant information and enough authority to implement this knowledge is the perfect solution.

The competent person’s duties come as a direct result of their training, it is only this person that is allowed to permit modifications to the scaffold and which components can be used. They are also responsible for the loads that are placed upon the scaffold and whether the supporting structure is strong enough to uphold these loads. They must also inspect all ropes for defects before each shift begins and at any point where the integrity of a rope may be compromised. Access to the scaffold must also be observed using knowledge from their training concerned with specific hazards.

An important responsibility of the competent person concerns the effects of weather conditions on scaffold integrity. Such weather conditions include storms or high winds; in these conditions it is up to the competent person to draw on their training and deem whether it is safe for workers to assail the scaffolding structure. Without specific information of safe working wind speeds it is up to the competent person to evaluate the situation on any specific site and put in place sufficient protective measures to ensure the safety of workers.

When it comes to working at height, safety is always a major concern. It is the employer’s responsibility that there is always a competent person on site to oversee the work and ensure all those on the scaffold have sufficient training and know how to work in a safe manner that minimises risks and takes into account all of the hazards that may be present. When it comes to safety, diligence is essential to achieve safe working methods.

The acronym PASMA refers to the Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association. Its purpose is to strive for the safe usage of scaffolds and towers in the construction industry. PASMA as a body has been in existence since the seventies working towards a safer operating environment for workers at height. As the body has worked so vehemently towards introducing safety measures, today the PASMA certificate stands as the industry standard for those working at height.

This has been especially true since the 2005 Work at Height Regulations have been enforced. By meeting and designing their training to meet these regulatory requirements they have managed to stay at the forefront of the scaffolding industry and PASMA today is a cornerstone of any person’s training who works at height.

The code of practise developed by PASMA is now the authoritative document for anyone wishing to work at height. It ensures that all those who use scaffolding are suitably aware of risks and dangers associated with this type of work. The constant updating of their codes of practise has meant that they always meet regulatory requirements in their training package. They are such an authority that it is with their consultation that new regulations are developed.

It is not just through training that PASMA have regulated the scaffolding and construction industries. They regularly oversee the training of persons able to audit and review other’s working practices. This is a vital component of their work as while training may give some idea of the potential risks, having a person there who is competent enough to regulate others means a safer working environment for all those at height.

The safe working practices developed by PASMA are present in a variety of industries. This has meant a multi-faceted approach to training that has been a core principle for those who work for PASMA. With so many different types of risk in a variety of disparate situations, ensuring safety can be a daunting task. Thankfully the training provided by PASMA and PASMA affiliated companies means that construction sites are safer than ever.

A major part of pursuing the compliance with Work at Height Regulations 2005 has been to ensure a competent person is always on site whenever scaffolds or towers are erected, altered or dismantled. It is thanks to PASMA training that enough competent persons are present to ensure the construction industry does not completely grind to halt. As further affiliate training companies offer courses to those needing suitable training, the numbers of competent persons is always increasing.

Put simply the competent person is someone who has had sufficient training to be considered professionally competent to ensure the safety of other workers. This training means that the competent person has the knowledge to recognise potential risks and dangers and put into effect measures that will limit if not completely diminish the risk of injury.

This has been especially important today as liability cases reach an all time high, now it is not just the conscience of a site manager that will be affected by an accident at work, increasingly the wallet of employers has also bee hurt. Today, any employer who has workers at height has a clear responsibility to ensure suitable competent persons are on site to keep safety procedures evident.

While accidents still happen on work sites, they are on the decrease. It is unlikely if they will ever be completely wiped out but with increasing numbers of PASMA trained persons hopefully these numbers will decrease.