Project Background: The VET-Safety project has been designed to the meet the needs of people involved within high risk work at height (WAH) activities particularly within the agricultural & environmental sectors of industry. The latest UK statistics indicate that the highest workplace fatalities occur within this sector. Previous project partner research also reported related health & safety concerns within this sector & developed a framework for common European VET competence standards. These standards can be adapted & developed further for use within the WAH occupations. At the same time this project aims to facilitate best practice & high quality instruction amongst VET providers & skills trainers of WAH courses across Europe & beyond, exchanging knowledge, innovations & expertise in the process. Project Objectives: The ultimate project goal is to ‘raise safety standards’ & ‘reduce accidents & fatalities’ of workers at height within agriculture & the environment. The 7 key project objectives to successfully achieve this goal are as follows: 1. Organise & run trainer technical standard setting events 2. Organise & run trainer technical evaluation and verification events 3. Produce trainer Codes of Practice, training guides etc for WAH 4. Produce a project web page/social media links & blogs 5. Develop a high quality VET provider & trainer e-knowledge library 6. Develop a Data Warehouse incorporating web-based analysis tools i.e. statistical analysis of fatalities/accidents etc 7. Develop 3 new European occupational standards & related competence certification in the safe use of chainsaws & other equipment for WAH within agriculture & the environment Project Participants: The project consists of a very experienced & capable partnership of 12 organisations tasked to ensure its success. Their make-up consists of VET & project management specialists, private & public bodies, non-profit organisations, e-learning, WAH & adult education specialists & government institutions in the education & agriculture sectors. Project Activities: Over the project lifecycle the partnership will undertake numerous tasks in pursuit of the ultimate VET-Safety goal. These include for example: • VET-Industry consultations • Meeting presentations • WAH training techniques analysis • WAH competency developments • WAH incident evaluations • Project dissemination on many levels across numerous sectors • International certification events • Training publications & guidance materials etc Project Methodology: The project will be undertaken in 4 stages within its lifecycle as follows. Stage 1: (Pre-cycle) Undertake pre-project planning & preparation meetings Develop an effective management plan, project organisational structure & dissemination plan Schedule the objectives into an action plan of individual tasks & work packages Resource & run trainer standard setting events in partner countries & develop VET training standards Monitor & evaluate feedback & disseminate information gathered till end of project Promote project information through the web, social media links etc till end of project Stage 2: (Mid-cycle) Resource & run trainer evaluation and verification events in partner countries & develop VET assessment standards Pilot test new WAH competency certifications in partner countries Undertake post-project sustainability planning & preparation meetings Develop VET trainer QA materials & e-tools & data warehouse Produce a project interim report & evaluate findings Stage 3: (End-cycle) Live test new WAH competency certifications in partner countries Completion of VET trainer QA materials & e-tools & data warehouse Develop a project ‘Exit Strategy’ Project End & final report & evaluation of the findings Stage 4: (Post-cycle) Analysis of project feedback Continued development, dissemination & enhancement of project products & goals Project Impact: The project will reach its objectives via enhancement of current training products available but more importantly through completely NEW partnership innovations focused on VET WAH safety. These are: 1. Web based VET knowledge library: e-LIBRARY 2. International VET Data Warehouse & associated incident analysis & reporting tools 3. Safe use of ladders & MEWPS & emergency rescue techniques VET qualification 4. Aerial use & safety of a chainsaw VET qualification 5. Safe use of winches in manual & mechanised lifting & pulling operations VET qualification The web based e-tools will enhance training experience, course delivery methods & benefiting both the trainer & trainee. These tools associated with 3 new European qualifications accredited & delivered to high quality standards will have an immediate impact in helping to reduce accidents & fatalities. Longer-term development of these across Europe will lead to further reductions in accidents & fatalities & increased worker safety on a wider scale supported by the unique predictive analysis capability of the VET Data Warehouse
Project Background: The VET-Safety project was designed to the meet the needs of people involved within high risk work at height (WAH) activities particularly within the agricultural & environmental sector of industry. 2011-2012 statistics indicated that the highest workplace fatalities occurred within this sector: Deaths: • UK-40 • France-47 Injuries: • UK-7,960 • France-18,970 Falls from WAH were the most common cause of fatality at work in the UK at 23% in 2012. By 2016 it was 27%. The 2nd highest WAH accident rate in the UK is within the agriculture sector. Previous projects (European Lifelong Learning Programme) found health & safety concerns within WAH & developed a framework for common European VET competence standards: LOLER Project (2011-2013) http://aba-skills.com/loler.php?project=loler : • UK-28 incidents per year in Agriculture-arboriculture (tree surgery) EAIOCOC Project (2009-2011) http://aba-skills.com/european_chainsaw.php : • UK-50% of tree work deaths between 1999-2010 occurred in WAH activities in Agriculture-forestry & arboriculture (chainsaw tasks at height from mobile elevating work platforms-MEWPs, ladders & rope & harness) A key to successful implementation of long-term quality training standards, for WAH, was to facilitate best practice & high quality instruction amongst VET providers & skills trainers to ‘raise safety standards’. The practical delivery of courses across Europe & beyond, supported by ABA International (International Accreditation Body) ensured this aim has been successful & provided a mechanism for continual exchange of knowledge, expertise and innovation within WAH. Project Objectives: The ultimate project goal was to ‘raise safety standards’ & ‘reduce accidents & fatalities’ in WAH. To successfully achieve this goal, 7 key project objectives were met: 1. Practical events for skills instructors were delivered ‘Train the Trainer’ 2. Practical events for skills instructors were delivered ‘Train the Assessor’ 3. Quality training guides produced 4. Project web page http://aba-skills.com/vetsafety.php?project=vetsafety & facebook page established https://www.facebook.com/vetsafety/ supported by ABA International 5. E-knowledge library (e-hub) developed supported by ABA International 6. Data warehouse integrated with e-hub developed 7. 3 new European occupational standards & competence certifications in safe use of chainsaws & other equipment for WAH established with ABA International Project Participants: The project consisted of a very experienced & capable partnership of 12 organisations tasked to ensure its success. Their make-up consisted of VET & project management specialists, private & public bodies, non-profit organisations, e-learning, WAH & adult education specialists & government institutions in the education & agriculture sectors. Project Activities: Over the project lifecycle the partnership undertook numerous tasks in pursuit of the VET-Safety goals: • VET-Industry consultations • Meeting presentations • WAH training techniques analysis • WAH competency developments • WAH incident evaluations • Project dissemination • International certification events • Training publications & guidance materials etc Project Methodology: The project was undertaken in 4 stages within its lifecycle: Stage 1: (Pre-cycle) Pre-project planning & preparation meetings held Management plan, project organisational structure & dissemination plan produced Objectives scheduled into action plan of tasks & work packages Successful trainer events & development of VET training standards On-going monitoring & evaluation of feedback & dissemination information On-going promotion of project information via web, social media etc Stage 2: (Mid-cycle) Successful trainer events & development of VET assessment standards New WAH competency certifications successfully pilot tested Post-project sustainability planning & preparation meetings held VET trainer QA materials & e-tools linked to data warehouse developed Project interim report produced Stage 3: (End-cycle) Live testing of new WAH competency certifications undertaken VET trainer QA materials & e-tools linked to data warehouse completed Project ‘Exit Strategy’ developed with ABA International Project completed & final report produced Stage 4: (Post-cycle) Project evaluation continues Partners continue to disseminate & enhance products & goals with ABA International Project Impact: The project reached its objectives by enhancement of training products and more importantly via completely new partnership innovations focused on WAH safety: 1. Knowledge library (e-hub) 2. Data warehouse (e-hub) 3. Safe use of ladders & MEWPS & emergency rescue techniques qualification accredited by ABA International 4. Aerial use & safety of a chainsaw qualification accredited by ABA International 5. Safe use of winches qualification accredited by ABA International The web based e-tools (e-passport, e-hub) & the availability