In the latest edition of Quarry Management Journal, James Thorne, CEO of MPQC & the Institute of Quarrying, has described MPConnect as:
"A comprehensive solution for recording and managing individual drivers’ and contractors’ achievements, ensuring that on-site personnel meet essential safety and competency standards."
This statement highlights the benefits of MPConnect as a management tool for the quarrying and mineral extraction sectors. However, there remains an important distinction to make – MPConnect is not, in itself, a proof of competence. For industries where safety and legal compliance are paramount, this distinction matters.
Let’s break down what MPConnect is and, crucially, what it is not.
What MPConnect Is:
A Centralised Record Management System
MPConnect consolidates information about a worker’s qualifications, licences, site-specific inductions, and professional certifications into a single, easily accessible database. This helps employers and site managers track their workforce’s achievements without juggling multiple systems or paper records.
A Tool for Safety and Compliance Tracking
By ensuring site personnel have completed essential safety training and hold the necessary credentials, MPConnect supports organisations in meeting industry expectations for minimum accepted safety and competency standards.
An Administrative Asset
For employers, MPConnect simplifies the verification process, ensuring workers meet minimum site-specific entry requirements. For workers, it reduces the administrative burden of carrying multiple certificates or records, offering a convenient, all-in-one solution.
What MPConnect Is Not:
A Measure of Competence
Competence in the workplace is a combination of training, experience, and the ability to apply knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios. While MPConnect records evidence of certification and training, it does not assess or validate a worker’s practical skills or decision-making ability.
A Legal Demonstration of Competence
UK law requires employers to ensure their workforce is both trained and competent, as outlined in regulations such as:
· The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA)
· The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
· The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
Meeting these legal obligations often requires practical assessments, such as those included in Vocational Qualifications or other competence-based assessments. MPConnect, being a management platform, does not fulfil this requirement. As much as a trade association, a professional institute, or an advisory committee may wish, MPConnect is not a legally mandated requirement.
Regulated or Independently Accredited
MPConnect itself is not regulated by qualification regulators such as Ofqual or SQA Accreditation. While it may store evidence of regulated qualifications, its role is limited to administration. This means it does not carry the authority of independently verified standards.
A Substitute for Competency Standards
Competency must be demonstrated and validated through formal assessments. Tools like the EMPI Awards Site Vehicle Competence Assessment (SVCA), for example, include rigorous practical evaluations, ensuring workers can safely and competently operate specialised vehicles or equipment. MPConnect lacks such mechanisms.
Why This Matters
For employers in the UK, the distinction between administrative convenience and legal compliance is critical. While MPConnect provides a robust system for consolidating records, it cannot replace the processes required to demonstrate competence under UK law. Employers relying solely on MPConnect to evidence worker competence may find themselves falling short of statutory requirements, exposing their operations to legal and safety risks & challenges.
This is not to downplay the value of MPConnect - it is an excellent tool for organising workforce data, tracking compliance with internal policies, and supporting operational efficiency. However, organisations must recognise its limitations and ensure they are also meeting legal obligations through recognised competency assessments and qualifications.
Conclusion
MPConnect represents a step forward in workforce record management for the quarrying and mineral extraction industries. However, it is crucial to understand its role as an administrative tool rather than a measure of competence.
To truly ensure safety and compliance, employers must go beyond tracking credentials and embrace rigorous assessments of worker competence, using assessments and qualifications designed to meet legal and regulatory standards. Only by combining the strengths of tools like MPConnect with proven competence-based frameworks can the industry achieve both operational efficiency and legal compliance.
What are your thoughts on the role of tools like MPConnect in the industry? Let’s start a conversation about how we can balance innovation with compliance.
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