fta news
Why field officer visits are important?
New health and safety poster
Recent experiences of field officers having difficulty Here’s what you need to have handy
In April, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
making arrangements to visit apprentices with The FTA’s busy field officers visit apprentices
published a new version of its approved health
the ATF present, has prompted the need to for to make sure the practical section of their
and safety law poster. The new poster updates
a greater explanation of the role of the FTA. All apprenticeship is on target. This is a list of what
the previous one, which was published in April
Government funded apprenticeship programmes they are looking for, to help to ensure everyone
1999. To accompany the poster, a leaflet, now
place a legal obligation on the learning provider knows what to expect.
in a more convenient format as a pocket card,
(the FTA) to ensure that the progress of the
Apprentice action plan. They want to see that work updates the old leaflet that was also published
apprentice is reviewed every 13 weeks throughout has been completed and that the Action Plan has
in 1999.
the programme. been signed and checked by their ATF.
The coke fire is lit and working.
‘There have been a growing number of
Why is the law poster changing?
There is adequate lighting and ventilation in the
occasions when our field officer has arrived
forge.
Research showed that the previous versions
to find that the ATF is not present. In order
Personal Protective Equipment is available for the
of poster and leaflet were visually unappealing
for us to fulfil a contractual obligation, it is
apprentice’s use.
and rarely read. The new versions have been
absolutely essential that the ATF is present to
There is a current Certificate of Employers Liability.
redesigned to be more readable and engaging.
give advice and feedback on the progress of A copy of the certificate of insurance must be
The poster and pocket card reflect recent
their apprentice. We strive to make appointments displayed where your employees can easily read it
changes in the law, and employers no longer
that are convenient for all concerned and we
(usually by displaying the document on the wall).
need to provide written information on the poster
respect the fact that ATFs and apprentices are
However, since 1 October 2008 you have been
or hand it to an employee with the pocket card.
very busy. There will always be emergencies, but
allowed to display your certificate electronically.
Instead, if advice is needed or a problem arises,
it is vitally important for ATFs to understand that
Employers choosing this method need to ensure
their employees know how and where to find the
employees are advised to phone the HSE Infoline
field officer visits are, in part, about tax payers
certificate and have reasonable access to it.
to be put in touch with the health and safety
being reassured that their money is being well
Current insurance policy schedule showing the
enforcing authority for their workplace, or with
spent on the apprentice, and that progress is as
inclusion of public liability as well as insurance HSE for employment medical advice.
it should be.’ covering injury to horses.
Do the current posters have to be
Health and safety law poster displayed and
replaced?
completed
Neville Higgins, FTA quality manager
Wage slips – please arrange for each apprentice to
Good news! To avoid unnecessary burdens on
have their last three payslips with them.
businesses, the HSE Board has set a five-year
Record of electrical inspection/testing for fixed and
transition period. Although the current poster
portable equipment.
must be replaced with the new one (and the
Record of regular inspection of fire extinguishers (in
current leaflets replaced by the pocket cards)
forge and in van[s]) this should be achieved by 5 April 2014.
Portfolio of evidence/college workbook (if available). However, if you decide to keep the old poster up
The van(s) used for mobile work.
until the end of the transition period, you must
Motor vehicle insurance certificate/policy schedule
keep the written information up-to-date.
for all vehicles used for work including apprentice’s
The written information that employers have to
own vehicle if applicable.
provide in writing, is inserted in the appropriate
MOT certificate for all vehicles used for work
including apprentice’s own vehicle if applicable.
boxes on the current poster, or given it to
Hand tools.
employees with the current leaflet. The required
A supply of steel and coke.
information is:
Anvil and fire for each apprentice in training.
The name and address of the enforcing authority.
First aid kit in the forge and van.
The address of the office of HSE’s Employment
The field officers may also wish to see samples
Medical Advisory Service (EMAS) for the premises
of the apprentice(s) practical work, so some
concerned. (These addresses can be obtained by
apprentice(s) shoes/forging exercises should be
phoning HSE’s Infoline on 0845 345 0055.)
available during each visit. Competent person’s name and address.
Where can you get a copy of the new
poster and how much will it cost?
WANTED - Field Officers
Update
You can order the new poster from the HSE
website or from HSE books (telephone 01787
The FTA is updating its register of prospective
881165) or through booksellers. At the current
field officers and would like to hear from farriers
Gas forge - flame failure device VAT rate (15 per cent) the standard English
– RSS, diploma, associates or fellows – who
or Welsh version costs £7.34. The semi-rigid
may be interested in finding out what this entails,
Following the publication of the last issue of
version costs £11.75. A pack of pocket cards
along with the area of the UK they would be able
the ‘Health and Safety, Hot Topics’ and also
(25 cards) costs £5. All the new law posters will
to cover.
‘The Bulletin’, both of which included articles
have a uniquely numbered hologram to prove
Field officers spend up to two days per week highlighting the flame failure device issue on gas
authenticity.
covering their duties and must be familiar with forges, the FTA has been encouraged by the
Further details regarding the new poster can be
the NVQ system of training. They must be keen response from the farriery community to ensure
found at
to get involved in farriery training and, although that these devices are working properly, and
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/lawposter.htm
current or previous experience as an ATF is thus securing a safe environment for all those
desirable, it is not essential. working with or around a gas forge. If further
Public liability insurance for horse owners
If you are interested, or would like to know more,
advice is needed regarding this issue, please do
Picture the scene: You are at a client’s yard
contact Andrea Hughes on 01733 319770 or
hesitate to contact the FTA. shoeing a horse and the horse kicks out and
email andreahughes@farrierytraining.co.uk
causes you a serious injury, which means you
A health and safety myth
cannot carry on your business for a certain period.
Do you sue the owner for damages? Is the owner
Apprentice inductions insured? If a claim is upheld, will this cause the
‘If you call the Health and Safety Executive owner financial hardship?
Following consultation with ATFs, and with (HSE) for advice, you’ll end up with an unwanted
Horse owners are sometimes unaware of
the support of the FTA Management Board, inspection.’
the ramifications should their horse cause an
the induction of apprentices took place at the
accident/injury to another person or damage to
In reality, the HSE’s ‘Infoline’ is confidential and
colleges rather than at Sefton House. Peter
property. Claims can have devastating financial
run for the HSE by a contractor. Your individual
consequences for the uninsured.
Ablett, the FTA Chief Executive said, “When I
information is not passed to the HSE, so it won’t Public liability insurance is available from insurance
took up my new position, one of the first issues
result in a visit. Trained operators are able to brokers or through membership of certain
brought to my attention was the desire of the
answer the majority of calls themselves. If they
societies, for example, ‘gold members’ of the
FTA Board to see apprentice inductions taking
can’t deal with your query fully they will ask you
British Horse Society receive liability for accidental
place at the colleges. When we consulted with
if it is alright to refer it to an expert in the HSE.
third party bodily injury and property damage.
ATFs last autumn there was unanimous support
So, if you have a query or a concern, just ask.
The FTA is trying to raise awareness of the
for this. The July 2009 apprentice Intake (33L)
importance of owners to consider public liability
You’ve got nothing to lose and it could help your
was the first to be inducted at the colleges on
insurance and perhaps when visiting clients this
business! HSE Infoline: 0845 345 0055
subject is one that you may wish to discuss with
1 September.’
clients.
Forge | October 2009 35
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