ARCA publishes approved training providers for ALFA operatives

To support the quality of labour in ALFA, asbestos training will need to be from a training provider which ARCA can be assured are competent to deliver the appropriate training.

Currently ARCA is developing a performance rating app, ALFA (Asbestos Labour Feedback App) to allow ARCA members to rate short term asbestos removal operatives that they use. This rating information will be shared with other ARCA members via the app to reassure them of the competency and attitude of the operatives they plan to utilise.  ARCA is doing this in response to member concerns regarding the quality of labour with regards to knowledge, skills and behaviour. 

In order to address these concerns, ARCA has looked at a number of initiatives such as building the app and approving training providers. In the future, ARCA Labour Supply Members will be required to only supply labour to ARCA members who have received asbestos training from an ARCA approved training provider. These initiatives represent a significant investment by ARCA.

Part of ensuring the quality of operative labour is that they receive asbestos training from a training provider which ARCA can be assured are competent to deliver the appropriate training. This means the provider has competent trainers and the necessary practical facilities and equipment.

To ensure that the licensed asbestos training the operatives receive meets the required standard, ARCA has an approved list of licensed asbestos training providers who have been assessed as meeting the requirements.  This list currently includes ARCA and UKATA Category C members, and other licensed asbestos training providers can be added to the list once successfully audited by ARCA. These audits will be provided by ARCA free of charge.

To ensure ALFA operatives are trained by those who can demonstrate to ARCA that they meet the training standards required, any licensed asbestos training certificate details entered into ALFA for operatives, where the certificate has been issued on or after 1st June 2020, must be issued by a training provider on ARCA’s approved list. Certificates which have been issued prior to 1st June 2020, by any asbestos training provider and still in date, can be added into ALFA.

The ARCA approved list of asbestos training providers can be found on the ARCA website.