Safety passport scheme launched in UK pharma sector
A new safety training scheme, designed to deliver accredited 'safety passports' for service engineers and other outside contractors working in pharmaceutical, healthcare, toiletries and cosmetics factories has been announced by an industry steering group.
A new safety training scheme, designed to deliver accredited 'safety passports' for service engineers and other outside contractors working in pharmaceutical, healthcare, toiletries and cosmetics factories has been announced by an industry steering group.
Assisted by the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) and the training specialist Safety Pass Alliance (SPA), the scheme is similar to that set up for suppliers to the food and drinks industry in 2002, which has since qualified over 9000 engineers and contractors' staff.
'Safety passports for the pharmaceutical and allied industries will make factory safety much simpler to ensure by demonstrating that the holder has been trained and examined in safe working practices to an industry-approved standard,' said Will Hooper, chairman of the Pharma Safety Passport Steering Group and environmental health and safety advisor at pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly.
He added that Eli Lilly would become the first company to implement the safety passport scheme, making it mandatory in early 2006 as part of its approved supplier system.
'We expect the scheme will gather momentum over the next few months as many more manufacturers formally announce their backing,' said PPMA president Mike Randall. 'Training courses from the PPMA and other SPA accredited providers will become available by May 2005.'