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Staff checking system that's set to take off
AIRPORTS and shopping centres around Britain could soon be able to find out instantly whether contract workers have the skills and qualifications to do their job, thanks to a Yorkshire company.
Until now, laborious checks have been carried out on paperwork provided by workers in order to comply with security and health and safety rules,
Sheffield-based Reset Training has devised a system which saves money by speeding up the checking process.
The company hopes to create dozens of jobs over the next few years, and the system could be used to check the qualifications and skills of teachers, nurses and carers.
The company's Reset Certification Scheme (RCS) has been adopted by Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA).
Under RCS, workers register with the scheme and produce their qualification certificates and documents. These are scanned and verified before being uploaded on to the RCS database. Once all the details have been checked, an RCS card is issued to the worker.
Each cardholder has their own profile which can only be accessed by using their card number and code. Cardholder details can also be given by phone so they can be verified before the worker arrives on site.
Gary Duce, the managing director of Reset Training, said: "Organisations and main contractors have a duty to verify the competence of individuals who work on their sites. Their responsibilities include checking everything from trade skills to health and safety accreditations."
For example, just because somebody is a qualified electrician, it doesn't mean they can erect scaffolding safely or have received training about the dangers of asbestos.
Mr Duce added. "Organisations that are aware of their duties are constantly asking for proof of competence before allowing work to start on site.
"This usually means individuals have to present them with cards, certificates and diplomas. Many organisations requesting this information won't accept photocopies.
"The verification process for contractors and verifiers alike is a real headache, in some cases because it means staff have to carry their certificates around with them, which means they could get lost or damaged."
Neil Rennison, the project manager at LBIA, said it only took a few seconds to verify the qualifications and skills of anyone visiting the airport to carry out work using RCS.
He added: "The airport can have hundreds of service providers on site every week. Ensuring they are qualified and competent to do their job presented a real challenge.
"Processing original hard copies of certificates for each individual was time-consuming and costly.
"When we saw the time savings the RCS could deliver it took us very little time to decide to join the scheme."
Several UK airports and universities are in talks with Reset about implementing the scheme.
The card can include details about other areas of expertise such as asbestos awareness and first aid training.
It can also include Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosures. While CRB disclosures never technically expire, organisations such as schools, hospitals and airports may apply different criteria when assessing them.
Mr Duce, who is also the managing director of Sheffield-based electrical contractors Priera, said he had the idea of developing the card 18 months ago.
He added: "We had to develop the web-based system from the ground up. The demand for proof of competence is relatively
new and is now being driven by regulations and the needs of insurers."
Reset Training has 15 full and part-time staff, who are all involved in servicing the card scheme.
Mr Duce said the company could employ between 50 and 70 staff in the next two years, as the growing number of members increases the need for support staff to ensure the card system works smoothly.
Mr Duce said he was optimistic about the company's growth prospects.
He added: "We are in talks with several major shopping centres about working with them. The scheme already has thousands of users.
"We have initially focused on construction, but there are plans for the service to be rolled out to include nursing and care workers, social workers and supply teachers."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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