Hats off to Barr for training success
A team of eight quarry managers from one of Scotland’s leading construction companies has successfully completed a new training initiative. The managers from Barr have all achieved a Level 3 S/NVQ in Health, Safety and Environmental Management, which was recently introduced in an attempt to improve safety standards in the quarrying industry.
In October 2004, as part of a drive to eliminate accidents at work, Barr enrolled all of their quarry managers on the course, which was delivered in partnership with local training provider Edutrain.
Barr Quarries have been supplying the construction industry for over 30 years. The company currently operate nine hard rock and sand and gravel quarries across central and southern Scotland, and in 2005 produced 1.1 million tonnes of raw material.
Andy Gillon, quarries operations manager at Barr, said: ‘Quarrying can be an extremely dangerous industry if you don’t work safely. As a company we pride ourselves in having exemplary safety record and it was for this reason that we decided to enrol all of our quarry managers on the S/NVQ course.
‘It proved to be a steep learning curve for all those who took part but it has undoubtedly benefited the company as whole. The course took over 12 months to complete during which time the managers received individual on-the-job training and were assessed every two months by Edutrain.
‘Although we had safety guidelines in place prior to registering with the S/NVQ, we have since made a number of changes. It has helped us to develop a new management system and introduce a minimum safety standard that anyone wishing to work at one of our quarries now has to meet.’
Anthony Rush, chairman of Barr Ltd, added: ‘I’m hugely proud of the achievement of our quarry managers. In my experience they are the most professional and able quarry managers I’ve come across in more than 40 years and they deserve great credit.
‘They tell me that there is a need to educate our workforce at large in best health and safety practice. We already engage in job-specific training, but following the success of this first NVQ course we will look to extend it across our whole workforce.’
Richard McClelland, managing director of Edutrain, commented: ‘I must congratulate the whole team of quarry managers who, by undertaking this S/NVQ, have proved themselves to have nationally recognized knowledge and skills in health, safety and environmental management.
‘The managers were motivated from the beginning and worked hard throughout the programme to gain qualifications that are well deserved. Both the assessor, Neil Johnson, and myself are very proud to have been associated with such a successful
project.’
In October 2004, as part of a drive to eliminate accidents at work, Barr enrolled all of their quarry managers on the course, which was delivered in partnership with local training provider Edutrain.
Barr Quarries have been supplying the construction industry for over 30 years. The company currently operate nine hard rock and sand and gravel quarries across central and southern Scotland, and in 2005 produced 1.1 million tonnes of raw material.
Andy Gillon, quarries operations manager at Barr, said: ‘Quarrying can be an extremely dangerous industry if you don’t work safely. As a company we pride ourselves in having exemplary safety record and it was for this reason that we decided to enrol all of our quarry managers on the S/NVQ course.
‘It proved to be a steep learning curve for all those who took part but it has undoubtedly benefited the company as whole. The course took over 12 months to complete during which time the managers received individual on-the-job training and were assessed every two months by Edutrain.
‘Although we had safety guidelines in place prior to registering with the S/NVQ, we have since made a number of changes. It has helped us to develop a new management system and introduce a minimum safety standard that anyone wishing to work at one of our quarries now has to meet.’
Anthony Rush, chairman of Barr Ltd, added: ‘I’m hugely proud of the achievement of our quarry managers. In my experience they are the most professional and able quarry managers I’ve come across in more than 40 years and they deserve great credit.
‘They tell me that there is a need to educate our workforce at large in best health and safety practice. We already engage in job-specific training, but following the success of this first NVQ course we will look to extend it across our whole workforce.’
Richard McClelland, managing director of Edutrain, commented: ‘I must congratulate the whole team of quarry managers who, by undertaking this S/NVQ, have proved themselves to have nationally recognized knowledge and skills in health, safety and environmental management.
‘The managers were motivated from the beginning and worked hard throughout the programme to gain qualifications that are well deserved. Both the assessor, Neil Johnson, and myself are very proud to have been associated with such a successful
project.’
