North East based, PD Teesport, the UK’s 2nd largest port in terms of annual tonnage handled, has successfully completed the first stage of a massive health and safety training initiative. In fact, the training scheme was the largest of its kind in the North East region.
The wide rang ing initiative involved more than 440 PD Teesport employees and was based at the port’s purpose built training facility.
The two tier health & safety training and combined project management programme was ran by CableCom Training in collaboration with other partners and included staff across all levels: from dock operators to senior management.
Roy Fraser, Managing Director for CableCom Training Ltd said: “This is a fantastic project to be involved in. This specialist health & safety training for over 440 PD Teesport employees will further enhance and support PD Teesport’s current health & safety measures.”
Qualifying for passport
To achieve their “health and safety passports,” each member of staff undertook a two day training course, during which they were trained on topics covering generic health and safety procedures, as well as port specific health and safety requirements. The training provided workers with a National Vocation Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in health and safety in the workplace.
The first stage of the training was a Safety Passport Scheme for Ports and consisted of two full-day training courses. During the two days, employees were trained through the use of interactive multimedia presentations and by undertaking online examinations on topics covering generic health and safety procedures, as well as port specific health and safety requirements. David Robinson, Managing Director of PD Teesport, said, “I am delighted to see our employees awarded with their health and safety passports. Health and safety is of paramount importance at PD Teesport and this training scheme is a reflection of just how seriously we continue to take the issue.”
PD Teesport received tremendous local support in favour of the training initiative. The local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was in full support of the port’s efforts in providing the opportunity for its employees to learn more about health and safety, in addition to gaining a qualification.
Pam Eccles, Executive Director of the LSC, Tees Valley added, “PD Teesport has given staff the opportunity to learn about health and safety, which is of utmost importance to the ports industry. I am confident that by offer ing comprehensive training to staff, in health and safety and in other areas, PD Teesport can guarantee a highly skilled, productive and knowledgeable workforce that will help them to maintain their leadership status in the market place.”
All of the 440 employees taking part in the first stage of the ‘Safety Passport Scheme for Ports,’ completed their training and achieved their health and safety passport in June. This has helped PD Teesport achieve its proposed 2005 training targets both successfully and on time.
Second stage of initiative
The second stage of PD Teesport’s health and safety training initiative, which commences in November will consist of a further two day training programme, to be carried out at PD Teesport’s purpose built training facility and will include more than 125 of the ports employees. Those involved will include front line managers, safety personnel and senior management Branta Training Ltd, a training and development organisation based on Teesside, will deliver the two day training courses on managing safety, health and the environment.
David King, Managing Director of Branta Training Management Ltd added, “Branta Training is very pleased to be involved in this training programme with PD Teesport. The development and training of local people on Teesside is a key factor to the continuing success of the port and indeed the region, and safety, health and environmental awareness are important to us all.”
In accordance with current health and safety regulations, each health and safety passport holder will have to undertake a re-training exercise every 3 years. The refresher course will require the health and safety passport holder to re-visit topics about the safe practice of and compliance with past regulations whilst learning about new health and safety procedures. As new employees join PD Teesport, they will embark on the health & safety passport scheme as part of the induction process.
“This is a tremendous scheme and by helping hundreds of our employees achieve the NVQ – and many more staff receiving expert health and safety training – we are confident of maintaining our high standards of safe as well as efficient operations,” concluded Robinson.
