Vocational Education & Training Standards in Agriculture, Forestry & Environmental Safety at Heights Erasmus Project

Project Title

Vocational Education & Training Standards in Agriculture, Forestry & Environmental Safety at Heights

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Access for disadvantaged; Recognition, transparency, certification; Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

Project Summary

Project Background:
The VET-Safety project was designed to the meet the needs of people involved within high risk work at height (WAH) activities particularly within the agricultural & environmental sector of industry. 2011-2012 statistics indicated that the highest workplace fatalities occurred within this sector:
Deaths:
• UK-40
• France-47
Injuries:
• UK-7,960
• France-18,970

Falls from WAH were the most common cause of fatality at work in the UK at 23% in 2012. By 2016 it was 27%. The 2nd highest WAH accident rate in the UK is within the agriculture sector. Previous projects (European Lifelong Learning Programme) found health & safety concerns within WAH & developed a framework for common European VET competence standards:
LOLER Project (2011-2013) http://aba-skills.com/loler.php?project=loler :
• UK-28 incidents per year in Agriculture-arboriculture (tree surgery)
EAIOCOC Project (2009-2011) http://aba-skills.com/european_chainsaw.php :
• UK-50% of tree work deaths between 1999-2010 occurred in WAH activities in Agriculture-forestry & arboriculture (chainsaw tasks at height from mobile elevating work platforms-MEWPs, ladders & rope & harness)

A key to successful implementation of long-term quality training standards, for WAH, was to facilitate best practice & high quality instruction amongst VET providers & skills trainers to ‘raise safety standards’. The practical delivery of courses across Europe & beyond, supported by ABA International (International Accreditation Body) ensured this aim has been successful & provided a mechanism for continual exchange of knowledge, expertise and innovation within WAH.

Project Objectives:
The ultimate project goal was to ‘raise safety standards’ & ‘reduce accidents & fatalities’ in WAH. To successfully achieve this goal, 7 key project objectives were met:
1. Practical events for skills instructors were delivered ‘Train the Trainer’
2. Practical events for skills instructors were delivered ‘Train the Assessor’
3. Quality training guides produced
4. Project web page http://aba-skills.com/vetsafety.php?project=vetsafety & facebook page established https://www.facebook.com/vetsafety/ supported by ABA International
5. E-knowledge library (e-hub) developed supported by ABA International
6. Data warehouse integrated with e-hub developed
7. 3 new European occupational standards & competence certifications in safe use of chainsaws & other equipment for WAH established with ABA International

Project Participants:
The project consisted of a very experienced & capable partnership of 12 organisations tasked to ensure its success. Their make-up consisted of VET & project management specialists, private & public bodies, non-profit organisations, e-learning, WAH & adult education specialists & government institutions in the education & agriculture sectors.

Project Activities:
Over the project lifecycle the partnership undertook numerous tasks in pursuit of the VET-Safety goals:
• VET-Industry consultations
• Meeting presentations
• WAH training techniques analysis
• WAH competency developments
• WAH incident evaluations
• Project dissemination
• International certification events
• Training publications & guidance materials etc

Project Methodology:
The project was undertaken in 4 stages within its lifecycle:
Stage 1: (Pre-cycle)
Pre-project planning & preparation meetings held
Management plan, project organisational structure & dissemination plan produced
Objectives scheduled into action plan of tasks & work packages
Successful trainer events & development of VET training standards
On-going monitoring & evaluation of feedback & dissemination information
On-going promotion of project information via web, social media etc
Stage 2: (Mid-cycle)
Successful trainer events & development of VET assessment standards
New WAH competency certifications successfully pilot tested
Post-project sustainability planning & preparation meetings held
VET trainer QA materials & e-tools linked to data warehouse developed
Project interim report produced
Stage 3: (End-cycle)
Live testing of new WAH competency certifications undertaken
VET trainer QA materials & e-tools linked to data warehouse completed
Project ‘Exit Strategy’ developed with ABA International
Project completed & final report produced
Stage 4: (Post-cycle)
Project evaluation continues
Partners continue to disseminate & enhance products & goals with ABA International

Project Impact:
The project reached its objectives by enhancement of training products and more importantly via completely new partnership innovations focused on WAH safety:
1. Knowledge library (e-hub)
2. Data warehouse (e-hub)
3. Safe use of ladders & MEWPS & emergency rescue techniques qualification accredited by ABA International
4. Aerial use & safety of a chainsaw qualification accredited by ABA International
5. Safe use of winches qualification accredited by ABA International
The web based e-tools (e-passport, e-hub) & the availability

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 450000 Eur

Project Coordinator

A1 Arborists LTD/Limited & Country: UK

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITATEA TRANSILVANIA DIN BRASOV
• Pandokrátor Ltd.
• Siksali Arendusselts MTÜ
• Blake Training
• Absolute Training Services International Limited trading as TreeCareIreland
• MENDELOVA UNIVERZITA V BRNE
• NARODNE LESNICKE CENTRUM