June 23, 2009Developed by Safety Pass Alliance (SPA) Ltd, in partnership with a senior group of health and safety professionals from the industry, the scheme will give every worker – from cleaners to engineers – an opportunity to obtain a basic level of health and safety competency that is consistent across the industry.Training courses will consist of a core day that is common to passport schemes for other sectors and focuses on issues such as: tools; plant and machinery; health and hygiene; procedures for emergencies; and the environment.The second day, specific to facilities management, covers a wide range of issues, from asbestos to working in confined spaces, and legionella to office safety.Contractors can pose an unknown risk to existing safety procedures as it is not always possible to ensure that individual contractors’ employees have been trained to an acceptable level of health and safety awareness, specifically for the facilities management industry.But, according to SPA managing director, Ray Gibbs: “Contract workers and employees who successfully complete the training course will be able to prove their awareness of health and safety in the facilities management workplace by showing their safety passport.”The card – similar to a UK driving licence – displays a tamper-resistant photograph of the successful trainee. The photocard is also said to feature a special, ultra-secure ‘holocote’ finish to prevent fraud.
