Chief Executive’s comment

Steve Sadley, Chief Executive

OUR MISSION

To give the best possible service and support to assist ARCA members and customers in providing safe, effective and ethical management of asbestos, thereby safeguarding the public.

OUR VISION

We envision being an essential strategic partner, through membership of ARCA and ATaC, to all companies providing asbestos management and licensed asbestos removal services, or services to those companies, by providing solutions which contribute to the overall success of their businesses and provide reassurance to their clients.

OUR VALUES

Our values define the culture at ARCA. The values of integrity, service, excellence, teamwork and responsibility guide the way we work, our behaviour and our commitment to support members, customers and colleagues.

Even in lockdown ARCA has not stood still

Obviously the COVID-19 virus is still causing a major disruption to almost every facet of people’s lives on a worldwide scale. In my last Chief Executive’s comment I remarked upon the early successes of the COVID-19 vaccine trials and literally 3-4 months later we are now looking at the national roll out of a vaccination programme that is on course to vaccinate all the over 50’s with at least their first vaccination dose by April 15th. Both cases of infection and deaths have reduced dramatically as a result of the current lockdown and vaccination programme. Gradually easing the lockdown, whilst maintaining sensible precautions, and continuing at pace with the vaccination programme, will hopefully see our lives soon start to resemble something like they did prior to the start of 2020. Let us hope so.

I mentioned during the most recent round of regional meetings that I was hopeful we may be able to have face to face meetings for the next round of regional meetings. On reflection, whether this will be possible or not, will not be known until very close to the scheduled dates of the meetings. Therefore, to allow us and attendees to plan and not have last minute changes which may inconvenience people we have decided that the ARCA regional meetings scheduled for July will be remote meetings. The dates of these meetings are in the Diary Dates section on page 10.

Our rollout of digital solutions for members continues at a pace.

In September last year we launched ALFA, enabling member contractors to rate the performance of agency operatives, so providing some reassurance of operatives’ competency and behaviour to those contractors who may engage this operative to work on their asbestos removal site in the future. We have had some feedback from members regarding additional features and we are currently in the process of adding some of these to the system.

The Site Audit Portal, where members can log in to view their site audit results, together with an analysis of those results, has been developed and is now in the test phase. Currently our plan is to launch this in early May subject to modifications and extensive testing being completed by then (page 7).

And finally, to complete the roundup of digital solutions currently in development, a TNA system for members directly employed operatives, based on the ALFA system, has been commissioned and the developers are currently working on building it. We hope to be able to showcase this product at the regional meetings in July (page 5).

As you can see, despite COVID-19, ARCA has not stood still, we have been working on the digital solutions described above whilst continuing to provide training, NVQs and site audits, as well as the range of other services we offer.

As members will be aware, last year we moved from 2 mandatory unannounced site audits for Full Contracting Members per membership year to 3. This was always going to mean that at some point we would need to add to our team of full time auditors. I am pleased to inform members that we have appointed a further site auditor, who will join our team on 6th April.

One sign that things are getting back to normal is the fact that, barring any major setbacks in the COVID-19 restriction lifting, the ARCA National Golf Day is due to go ahead. This was originally scheduled for May 13th, but restrictions will still be in place with regards to dining indoors and using hotels. We have now rearranged the ARCA National Golf Day for the 30th of June at Woburn Golf Club.

I sincerely hope when I write my next Chief Executive’s comment for the Summer issue of ARCA News the World and our lives will resemble something like we remember prior to COVID-19. Until then Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives.

Steve Sadley Chief Executive