Blasting Qualifications for Construction

The drive for the explosives industry to provide a Competence Qualification for Shotfirers and Explosives Engineers in the United Kingdom and Europe is well documented.
The BAM JV (BAM Nuttall, BAM Ritchies and Wayss & Freytag) at the Glendoe Project has highlighted the common industry problem of demonstrating workforce competence in construction and tunnelling projects. In the Extractives and Mineral Processing Industries the use of NVQ/QCF qualifications for Shotfiring is well established. There are many good quality in-house training programmes within the construction industry but there are no industry wide recognised shotfiring qualifications.

Competence
There is a requirement under The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, BS6164:2001, Code of practice for safety in tunnelling in the construction industry and BS5607 - Code of practice for the safe use of explosives in the construction industry; for all work to be carried out by a competent person.

Definition - A person with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and other qualities to enable them to undertake the duties assigned to them.

There have been many discussions as to the best route to allow us to demonstrate our ‘competence’. For many years the NVQ has been generally accepted as the preferred method of workplace assessment. However due to various sector requirements a cross sector standard has been elusive – until now.

The introduction of the Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland now allows existing units to be shared with other Awarding Organisations to produce sector specific qualifications. This means that the current Blasting Operations QCF units can be used to provide suitable blasting qualifications for Construction, Tunnelling, Demolition and Construction Diving.

These qualifications will also be available in Scotland, as there is no Scottish Credits and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) equivalent due to the lack of potential numbers.

Industry Working Group
After an industry review it became apparent that there were several industry groups interested in providing an industry recognised shotfiring qualifications for construction. The first meeting was held at the BAM Nuttall Training Centre, Halesowen on 9 September 2010.

Aims
• Provide a QCF Shotfirer and Explosives Engineer competence qualification for Construction and Tunnel sectors
• Provide a QCF competence qualification for Bulk Explosives Truck Operator (Underground Bulk Systems)
•Agree cross sector recognition of competence cards

Outcome
Copies of the Proskills ‘Rules of Combination’ and individual Blasting Operations QCF units were distributed and discussed in detail. An across the board agreement with such a cross sector working group was, at this stage unexpected, however the ease with which an agreement was reached demonstrated the commitment from those involved to benefit their sectors with blasting and bulk explosives truck qualifications.
This commitment will provide industry recognised Shotfiring qualification for Shotfirers and Explosives Engineers in Construction, Tunnelling, Demolition and Construction Diving and Bulk Explosives Truck Operators for Tunnelling.

Progress
ConstructionSkills and Proskills have formally agreed to support the introduction of these qualificationswith Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) being the Awarding Organisation for the awards.Subject to approval, it is hoped that these awards will be available from December 2010.

At the time of writing ConstructionSkills has had no response from occupational representatives for Demolition or Construction Diving.

Existing and interested Assessment Centres from ALL sectors can register with MPQC to deliver these qualifications, subject to meeting the MPQC Assessment Strategy.

QCF and NVQ
Everyone is familiar with NVQ Levels 1 – 5, with Blasting Operations set at NVQ Level 3. The QCF recognises achievement through awards of credit for units and qualifications and is more responsive to employer and learner needs.

All qualifications in QCF will have standardised titles, which determines the level, size and content. The qualification title will determine the content.

Qualifications Available
Shotfirer-Level 3 NVQ Diploma for Shotfiring in Construction (QCF) with Pathways for Tunnelling, Demolition and Construction Diving
Explosives Storekeeper - Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Explosives Storage for Construction (QCF) with Pathways for Tunnelling, Demolition and Construction Diving
Blast Designer - Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Blast Design for Construction (QCF) with Pathways for Tunnelling, Demolition and Construction Diving
Explosives Engineer - Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Shotfiring Supervision for Construction (QCF) with Pathways for Tunnelling, Demolition and Construction Diving
Bulk Explosives Truck Operator in Tunnelling - Level 2 NVQ Diploma for Bulk Explosive Truck Operations in a Tunnelling Environment (QCF)

Note: For all Tunnelling qualifications the Tunnel Safety Passport is a mandatory requirement.

This qualification is a Level 2 Diploma under the ‘Rules of Combination’ as the addition of the specialist Tunnelling Units means that more than 50% of the total units are at Level 2.The assessment process will take approximately 12 weeks, however learners can take as long as they require to complete the award.

Bulk Explosives Truck Operations are carried out in surface Construction or in Extractives & Mineral Processing sites by EPC-UK, Orica, Maxam UK Ltd and Explosives Developments Limited. The operators should have achieved Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Bulk Explosive Truck Operations.Only EPC-UK has MPQC accreditation to assess the Bulk Explosives Truck Operations.

Competence Cards
The use of competence cards across the Construction industry is well documented and there are no reasons why industry sector Shotfiring and Explosives Engineer cards could not be made available as Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has been issuing a Shotfiring Operator card to those holding an NVQ ShotfiringOperations – Level 3, for several years.

In the Extractives and Mineral Processing Industries when a Shotfirer or Explosives Engineer has achieved their NVQ they are required to undertake the MPQC Explosives Supervisor and Shotfirer Competence Audit every 5 years to demonstrate their continuing competence, this audit is based on the National Occupational Standards for Blasting Operations and is carried out by an MPQC approved auditor. They are then issued with an MPQC Blasting Operations card.

CPD
Most industry professional bodies encourage members to take part in and record activities related to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).The process of participating in and recording CPD demonstrates the commitment of the member to maintaining professional competence.

Conclusion
The standardisation of shotfiring qualifications for Construction is long overdue and will provide sector Shotfirers and Explosives Engineers with transferrable qualifications. This will increase the professionalism of individuals, improve health & safety standards and reduce accidents within the blasting industry.

If there are any doubts that these qualifications are required then a visit to the aptly named ‘YouTube’ is all that is required.

Working Group
Kevin Bennett                 BAM Nuttall
Ben Donnachie             BAM Ritchies
Brian Earnshaw            TunnelSkills
Steve Goodgroves        SPG Safety
David Hudson               Mineral Products Qualifications Council
Malcolm Ingry                Institute of Explosives Engineers
Phil Robinson               EPC-UK
Andy Rotherham           Proskills (SSC)
Phil Smith                      Health and Safety Executive (Explosives)
George Swann             ConstructionSkills (SSC)
Andy Watson                 Mines Rescue Services

Ben Donnachie MIExpE
BAM Ritchies

Article courtesy of Explosives Engineering- December 2010