11 minute read
ARCA news
New Development
for Member Contractors
The ALFA system for rating the performance and behaviour of agency operatives on site is working well and the feedback from contractors is very positive.
In fact, some contractors are now using the same rating categories for their internal TNA process.
This led to some member contractors talking to ARCA about how an ALFA system could be built for employed operatives. That is a system whereby they can ask their site supervisors to rate an employed operative as part of their TNA process, with the flexibility of choosing different types of asbestos removal work and teams for an operative. ARCA is pleased to announce that a specification for this ALFA system was drawn up and discussed in detail with a number of member contractors. The system’s development work is currently underway with the aim of carrying out testing over the coming weeks.
This has been designed to support member asbestos removal contractors in the management and fulfilment of their operative training and development programmes, and certificate management.
Keep up to date at www.arca.org.uk
update
Asmall working group, comprising of two ARCA and two NFDC representatives, has been formed to produce a development roadmap for the Asbestos Removal Management Institute (ARMI), a joint venture between the trade associations ARCA and NFDC.
This working group has already held several meetings with an established institute to discuss their model and evolution.
The roadmap being developed by the working group will include timescales for the introduction of ARMI Member meetings, annual seminars, a revised CPD scheme, and in time a management committee elected from the membership and dedicated entrance exams. In addition, the membership criteria are to be reviewed and revised.
Keep up to date at www.armi.org.uk
Association completes ISO recertification audit with flying colours
The Association successfully retained certification to ISO 9001:2015 following a recertification audit which identified no non-conformances and no opportunities for improvement.
The auditor from NQA commented in his report; ‘leadership has been effectively demonstrated and commitment levels are evident. Also, documented information to demonstrate that the system is well implemented and well understood throughout the organisation.’
“Over the past year we have had to adapt how we deliver our products and services, and this recertification demonstrates that we have continued, under extraordinary circumstances, to meet the required level of quality,” stated Steve Sadley, Chief Executive of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association.
Being an organisation delivering various services to members, the Association is proud to have been following the ISO 9001 quality management standard, and undertaking annual audits, for the last 16 years. The ARCA quality management system (QMS) describes the approach, procedures and processes to be followed in order to demonstrate the Association’s ability to consistently provide quality membership, training and auditing services. The standard also assesses leadership, the organisation’s goals and how these will be achieved, as well as risk-based thinking.
CSCS Cards update
Akey requirement for all CSCS card applications (new or renewal) is proof that the applicant has passed the relevant CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test within the last 2 years.
Currently the Pearson Professional test centres in England and Wales are currently open, however due to COVID-19 safeguards the centres cannot run at full capacity and some applicants are experiencing longer wait times than usual.
Therefore, in January 2021 the CSCS asked the industry to continue to support the following temporary measures: w Employers and those responsible for site access and card checking procedures to use their discretion towards workers whose cards have expired since March onward. But a worker must always hold the correct card for the job they do on site. w CSCS has extended the grace period for card renewals from 6 months after the card expires to 12 months. This means that the card can be renewed, once the CITB HS&E test has been passed, up to one year from the card’s expiry date. This will assist those applicants struggling to find availability to sit the test and renew their card.
Keep up to date at www.cscs.uk.com
Audits for ARCA Members holding Scaffolding and Maintenance Licences
The Association is introducing annual audits for scaffolding and equipment maintenance members who hold an HSE licence.
ARCA has been carrying out audits for some of these member companies on request for a number of years. However, from 1st April 2021 the Association is formalising the requirement for an annual ARCA audit as part of membership.
An ARCA auditor will carry out an audit once a year on the performance of scaffolding companies while working on an asbestos removal site, and for companies which maintain equipment used on asbestos removal sites ARCA will audit the company’s maintenance facility.
The audits will be arranged with the businesses so that the complete process undertaken can be audited. This will enable the company’s performance to be thoroughly assessed and will provide the members with evidence of external audits to support their licence renewal application.
Audits will follow specific criteria relevant to the licensed work and will be carried out electronically using ARCA’s unique App, which will enable audit findings to be reported immediately to the business via email, along with a separate corrective action report if applicable.
Chris Early, An Obituary
On the 15th March 2021 we were informed that our friend and colleague Chris Early had passed away peacefully in Glasgow Hospital the previous week. Over the years, Chris was employed as an ARCA sub-contract trainer, delivering many training courses on our behalf. The training courses Chris delivered for us were mostly in Scotland, and that’s where the majority of ARCA members who knew Chris will have met him. Chris was involved in a serious accident late last year and since then had been in Glasgow Hospital receiving treatment for his injuries. Chris was a genuinely nice guy and well known in the industry, and as a result he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Training Reminder Service
To support members with their planning, ARCA sends monthly email reminders of up and coming asbestos training certificate expiries for their operatives, supervisors and contract managers.
Emails are sent to member’s training contacts and include, employee name, current training certificate and expiry, and dates of scheduled ARCA refresher training courses (remote and centre-based) over the next two months.
“Feedback has been really positive, as members appreciate the timely notification and support in arranging asbestos refresher courses” commented Satish Patel, ARCA Training Manager.
This email reminder service enables members to book refresher courses in advance of certificate expiry, keeping their employee’s knowledge and understanding up to date.
Site Audit Portal
for Contractor Members
IN DEVELOPMENT
ARCA is currently developing a Site Audit Portal for Full Contracting Members, which will enable a member to login to a private portal and review their ARCA Site Audit Accreditation Scheme (SAAS) and additional audit results, view audit reports in full, and more.
On a member’s dashboard will be a number of tables showing audit results over 3, 6 and 12 months, and audit criteria have been grouped into the categories of ‘Plan’, ‘Do’ and ‘Check’, making it very clear in which areas the business is performing well or needs improvement.
The first table will show the member’s results from their internal audits via the ARCA Internal Audit App, and the second table will show the member’s ARCA SAAS audit results, along with the results of any additional audits that ARCA has carried out for that member. This information, from both tables (if available), will then be put together to show the overall average result from all of these audits.
Finally, there is a further table giving the average result from all ARCA membership SAAS audit results, so providing a benchmark for members on performance compared to the average of all ARCA members.
Also, within this Site Audit Portal members will be able to view all of their ARCA audit reports in full, together with any corrective action reports.
“This is a huge step in extending our audit service to our members,” commented Geoff Silver, Membership Compliance Manager.
“Being able to have all audit results in one place and benchmark them across ARCA membership, provides an excellent tool to analyse and manage the performance of a business. Also, being able to generate an overall audit report summary will provide further evidence to support a licence renewal application.”
The initial build has been completed and the project has moved into the test phase.
ARCA plans to showcase the Site Audit Portal at the July Regional Meetings.
CHAS Premier Package –Common Assessment Standard
In ARCA’s continued work with CHAS to provide members with the best service possible, ARCA has discussed and agreed a discount for the CHAS Premier Package, which is the Common Assessment Standard (CAS).
ARCA Full Contracting Members are eligible for a 20% discount when making a new application. This can result in a significant saving!
Also, ARCA members can gain a 10% discount when renewing their CHAS Premier Accreditation Package.
The Common Assessment Standard (CAS), a leading accreditation programme recognised industry-wide, was designed to standardise the prequalification process, helping both clients and contractors improve supply chain efficiency, reduce supply chain risks, and find reliable business opportunities.
ARCA MEMBER EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT
The CHAS pricing system varies with the number of employees in the business. Further information on benefits and assessments can be found at www.chas.co.uk
Currently applications cannot be made online, so please call ARCA on 01283 505765 for a discount code, and then you can apply to CHAS via 0345 5219111.
The Performance Rating App for Asbestos Labour
ALFA goes from strength to strength
Just over six months since the launch(i) of ALFA, the App has proved that its objective is already being met. Before ALFA, feedback from the majority of member contractors was that the quality of agency operatives was their biggest issue. Now member contractors are reporting that the competency and behaviour of the agency operatives they have sourced and rated in ALFA has noticeably improved.
ALFA has been embraced with… w Number of operatives registered(ii) – over 1,000 w Number of operative placements on licensed work over last 12 months – over 2,400 w Number of ratings (licensed work) made over last 12 months – over 3,500 w Number of operatives with an overall performance rating(iii) - 282 The average performance rating for all operatives within ALFA over the last 12 months is 4.9 – where 4 is generally satisfactory, 5 is good and 6 is the highest rating.
Average performance rating delivers a positive result
Operatives now rated on non-licensed asbestos removal work
New functionality in ALFA enables member contractors to rate short-term asbestos removal operatives undertaking non-licensed work.
Since its launch, the focus for ALFA was to rate the performance and behaviour of short-term operatives while undertaking licensed asbestos removal work.
The App has now been developed further to include non-licensed work, that is work such as, asbestos cement and vinyl floor tile removal, when full face RPE is not required.
Licensed work is rated on nine categories covering asbestos removal and safety competencies, and the operative’s behaviour and attitude. Non-licensed work is rated on all but one of these categories, which is not relevant to non-licensed asbestos removal work. An operative’s overall performance rating will be calculated and viewed within ALFA separately for each type of work.
“The feedback we have received over the last months about ALFA has been very positive. With the average rating of all agency operatives undertaking licensed work reporting good evidence of competency,” comments Steve Sadley, Chief Executive of ARCA.
“I have previously stated that we would continue to support ALFA, and developing the App to enable operatives to be rated for nonlicensed work demonstrates that. This is another step in adding even more value to this tool for all parties, in our commitment to improve professionalism and standards in our industry,” concluded Steve Sadley.
From 1st March 2021 agency operatives receive ratings for both licensed and non-licensed asbestos work. Once an operative is assigned by an agency to undertake work for a contractor, the contractor will be able to view the operative’s overall performance ratings(iv) for both licensed and non-licensed work separately.
Further information on ALFA is available on the ARCA website overview
The Asbestos Labour Feedback App, ALFA, enables ARCA member asbestos removal contractors to rate the performance and behaviour of operatives supplied by ARCA labour supply members.
Having an overall performance rating of an operative, as well as certification information, available in one App, provides contractors a better understanding of the competency of an agency operative.
ALFA, a web-based application provides a number of benefits for all parties: w Reassurance of labour competence w Performance feedback w Identifies training needs w Automated system w Certificate management
www.alfa.reviews
(i) ALFA launched 1 September 2020 (ii) All statistics as of 18 March 2021 (iii) With 5 or more individual ratings (iv) An overall performance rating is available once five individual ratings have been made
