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Happy 40th Birthday ARCA
For 40 years ARCA has supported its members, providing guidance and advice, as well as taking up numerous initiatives to help move the industry forward, promoting professionalism and high standards.
Back in the late 70’s a number of the more responsible asbestos removal companies were endeavouring to introduce standards. Then in 1979 a small number of these companies talked about establishing a trade association for companies carrying out asbestos removal work.
The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) was formed 1st July 1980.
ARCA’s aim then, was to introduce good practice standards to enable clients to have confidence in the way asbestos removal work was carried out. Shortly after being formed the Association formed a technical committee, which began writing guidance to support member contractors.
The reputation of ARCA and its aims soon spread across the industry and in the early 80’s the number of members rose considerably; soon exceeding 50 companies with many more wishing to join.
During the 80s the industry continued to develop; with the licensing of asbestos contractors introduced by HSE in 1983, requirement for annual training, and the introduction in 1987 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations, together with its own approved code of practice. The industry was acknowledging the hazards associated with asbestos removal and the precautions that had to be taken.
ARCA was formed to promote a professional industry and support its members. Something that ARCA has, and continues to work tirelessly towards.
Members have access to a range of services, which have been developed to provide expert support for the management of safe operations. Also, ARCA has supported members in many other ways, such as taking the initiative to develop qualifications and develop a unique member internal audit app.
Developing Training and Qualifications – A Career Path
Today ARCA’s team of trainers deliver all the training courses asbestos removal operatives, supervisors and managers need to fulfil their roles and regulatory obligations, at 7 centres across the country.
Also, ARCA has been key to the development of qualifications for the asbestos removal industry, with the most recent development being a Level 3 NVQ Diploma for Supervisors.
Through ARCA, each of the key asbestos removal job roles; operative, supervisor and manager, have a clear career path of training and competency recognition.
High standards on site
The Association launched the Site Audit Accreditation Scheme (SAAS) in 2000, under which ARCA would audit members’ performance on-site.
The SAAS is still central to Membership of ARCA and the Association has continued to enhance the scheme over the years to continue to support high standards across membership and provide a strong level of reassurance to all parties, including end-clients.
Today the scheme requires member contractors to have three satisfactory unannounced (meaning contractors have no prior notice of when or where an audit will take place) site audits in every membership year. Participation in the SAAS is a mandatory part of membership for licensed asbestos removal contractors.
Quality of Labour
With virtually half of all licensed asbestos removal contractors in the UK as members and the majority telling ARCA that their biggest issue was the quality of agency labour. ARCA took up the challenge and in September 2020, saw ARCA Members have the capability of ALFA, the Asbestos Labour Feedback App.
The first of its kind in the industry, ALFA enables ARCA member contractors to rate the performance and behaviour of operatives supplied by ARCA labour supply members. So once an operative is assigned to a specific job in ALFA the contractor can view an overall performance rating (which can be from numerous assignments for numerous contractors) for the operative - providing reassurance of competency and attitude.
