UKATA leads the way in the setting of standards for asbestos training in the UK.
January 2008 saw the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) pass responsibility for managing the list of competent asbestos training providers to UKATA (the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association).
UKATA was tasked with promoting the highest possible standards for all types of asbestos related training by working with official governing bodies to uphold national standards, procedures and requirements by improving training standards, procedures and disciplines.
UKATA sets standards, audits and manages the list of asbestos training providers by subjecting all members to an audit of their training prior to giving accreditation. If training has not been provided by a UKATA member, enforcing officers may ask operators to demonstrate how they checked the standard and competence of the training their employees received.
Peter Robinson, Chairman of UKATA, said:
“There are exciting times ahead for UKATA and its members. With HSE’s support and backing, we will build on the work that HSE started with the list of asbestos training providers. Ultimately, this association will provide the benchmark of standards that asbestos training providers will have to achieve and maintain.
We are giving immediate attention to the issue of training for licensed asbestos work. I want to include competent training providers in these areas into the association as early as possible so that the whole issue of sub-standard asbestos training in tackled as a whole and the consumers given value for money.”
A complete list of UKATA approved members can be viewed on the UKATA website.