CIWM has launched the first professionally recognised contractor competency scheme to improve health and safety in the metal recycling sector.
The scheme, developed by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) in association with the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), sets out to provide proof of skills, competence and qualifications through recognised credentials.
CIWM, the waste sector’s representing body, announced the launch of the Metal Recycling Contractor Competency Scheme (MRCCS) as a way to provide evidence of individual contractors’ capability and competency.
This will set out to enable organisations to ‘quickly and easily check that they have the required health, safety and wellbeing skills to work on-site in the metal recycling sector’, CIWM says.
The MRCCS will not only make it much simpler for organisations to complete vital reference checking, but also enable them to recruit and retain employees and make a tangible contribution towards improved health and safety across the sector
Created in association with BRMA, the scheme is the first of its kind in the sector and will reduce the risk of incidents by improving health and safety skills and awareness.
The competence for MRCCS will be confirmed by a Pearson VUE test and evidenced via CIWM ProFile, a new digital credentials system being developed by CIWM, which allows it to be validated on-demand via a unique QR code.
Katie Cockburn, Professional Services Director at CIWM, said: “The MRCCS will not only make it much simpler for organisations to complete vital reference checking, but also enable them to recruit and retain employees and make a tangible contribution towards improved health and safety across the sector.”
Antonia Grey, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the BMRA, said: “Having a system in place that allows metals recycling companies to quickly ensure that contractors working on site have the appropriate training and skills is going to be a great add-on to our existing health and safety toolkit.”
The MRCCS tests are now available for contractors to book, with the first tests taking place on Tuesday 3 May 2022.