Pasma Training & Its Relation to Working at Height

In the UK, the HSE driven "Working at Height Regulations 2005", clearly state that any person assembling, dismantling or altering the structure of a mobile access tower should be competent to do so or be in the process of being trained to be so..

A person who is competent should be able to demonstrate a sufficient amount of expertise be that via formal training, on the job experience and/or expertise. The HSE regs state that a competent person is someone who can:

a. carry out their assigned duties at the level of responsibility allocated to them;
b. understand any potential hazards related to the work (or equipment) under consideration;
c. detect any technical defects or omissions in that work (or equipment), recognise any implications for health and safety caused by those defects or omissions, and be able to specify a remedial action to mitigate those implications.

Anyone working on a mobile scaffold tower or assembling it will be subject to the Working at Height regulations. ACWAHT (advisory committee on working at height) say that for anyone working at height, a competent person is someone who:

• Knows and understand the specific legal duties under the Work at Height Regulations which apply to them as an individual
• Understands who controls their activity and the lines of communication to use
• Understands the principles of fall protection that the Regulations require to be used
• Is able to recognise safe and unsafe situations / activities
• Understands how to deal with the hazards associated with the task allocated to them
• Has adequate training in the correct use and limitations of any work equipment allocated to them for the task
• Understands the need for and the ability to check the adequacy of the safety equipment allocated to them
• If having equipment issued to them on a personal basis, has an understanding of the correct procedure for storage, maintenance and inspection
• Understands the safe procedures of work and states the correct procedure for the task, the emergency (including rescue) procedures in place for the work and their role in it
• Knows the procedure for reporting any defects, hazards or unsafe procedures they detect

The governing body for PASMA training is the 'not for profit' body "PASMA" and the rules for the training of individuals under PASMA is to carry out training only at authorized training centres.

PASMA members agree the format and content of the PASMA training courses and these then collectively shape the course based on their first hand experience. As the only training scheme in this field that is accepted by safety professionals across the UK, PASMA training gives successful delegates 5yrs competency in the erection and maintenance of a mobile access tower scaffold. Those delegates who pass receive a certificate and a credit card sized ID card.

All of the PASMA instructors, trainers, training centres and premises are continuously assessed to ensure they meet with the standards as laid down by PASMA. New training partners need to have prior approval and vetting and then be subject to an ongoing audit.