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British Aggregate Assoc. welcomes proposal to cut red tape on industry

Nov, 26 2009

(UK) -- The British Aggregates Association (BAA) has welcomed the recent proposals by the Conservative Party to cut the burden of health & safety red tape on industry. The Conservative proposals are based on the “Earned Autonomy” schemes in the US which have replaced government regulators by industry audits.

BAA Director, Robert Durward:
“The Conservative plans would fit very well with the recently introduced BAA safe site compliance scheme. The BAA scheme already has the support of the HSE who rate it as one of the most effective they have seen.”

The BAA scheme is a professional audit of the site, personnel and working practices. It is carried out by industry experts who report to an independent panel. The first two certificates were awarded at the BAA AGM at Rutland Water in May 2008 and over twenty BAA members will soon have completed the process.

Robert Durward:
“The BAA scheme not only provides evidence of competence, it makes a significant contribution to site safety which is by far the most important consideration. All our members wish to look after their staff and the BAA scheme is proving to be a vital tool for quarry managers whether or not they already hold formal qualifications.”

The scheme adapts itself to the particular circumstances of each individual site and more emphasis is given to practical issues than to creating a paper trail. BAA assessors look beyond desk based safety procedures and base their judgement on what is actually happening “at the coal face.”


Notes: 
    BAA Assessment of Operating Standards in Quarries. HSE magazine Quarry FactFile 41, September 2009.