28 Feb 2012
Cogent is now the lead Sector Skills Council for the Explosives sector and the custodianship of the National Occupational Standards for Explosive Substances and Articles (ESA), which have been transferred from Semta to Cogent.
These NOS are now available on the NOS database www.ukstandards.co.uk.
The National Occupational Standards database contains all the NOS that are currently approved and available and is in the process of being populated and redeveloped by the UKCES. To assist the Explosives sector, a table summarising the suite of ESA NOS can be accessed by following this link. Each of the NOS has been given a new NOS reference by the UKCES. The table provides information on how the old NOS references relate to the new versions of the NOS for the sector.
Allan Hinton, Programme Manager for the Development Office for Explosives Skills, a collaborative venture between Homeland Security Qualifications and the Institute of Explosive Engineers, is using the ESA NOS to support the development of explosive role profiles. Cogent is working closely with the Institute of Explosives Engineers and the Standards Setting Body (SSB) for Explosives, Munitions and Search Occupations (EMSO) to explore ways to use these role profiles to develop Gold Standards for the sector.
The SSB for EMSO was established in 2000 to develop National Occupational Standards (NOS) and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) for those involved in munition clearance (ie bomb disposal - both explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD)) and search activities. They will work with Cogent, as the lead sector skills council for the area, to ensure the NOS are kept up to date and reviewed, when necessary.
A Sector Skills Strategy Group (SSSG) represents the Explosives sector and provides strategic direction to sustain the explosives skills required to meet present and future business needs and so raise the reputation of the UK explosives sector. This is made up of senior employers, but also includes others in an advisory capacity, e.g. professional institutions, HSE, Cogent and trade associations.
The sector is described as “those persons, organisations and other legal entities that conduct research and development, design, manufacture, storage, transport, use or disposal of UN Hazard Class 1 explosive substances or articles in their normal course of business”
For further details, please contact Matt Hardy - [email protected]
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