A Face Fit Test and Certificate is a way to prove that the mask an operator is wearing fits correctly.

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There are different types of mask that can be worn as protection against SILICA DUST whist cutting with a Cut-Off Saw (Disc Cutter). Some will not Face Fit as well as others and so it is important to the operator and their employer to ensure any Personal Mask does not let contaminents past the seal between the mask and the face.

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For protection against SILICA DUST in construction, face masks fall into two groups:

    1. Tight Fitting Facepiece

            With this group there are two type of mask,

               a) Those that are Non-Reusable (NR) and should

                    be replaced every day.

               b) Those that are Reusable (R) with replacable

                    filters  and require filter changes after around

                    28 days

     2. Loose Fitting Hood

            These are full face protection and maintain a

             positive pressue by way of a filtered fan system.

             These would be generally worn by operators with

              facial hair when a tight fitting face piece will not

              seal

             

A Face Fit Test and Certificate can be completed in only a few minutes and will be valid for 2 years for as little as £30.00 pls VAT per operator

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Face Fit Test and Certification can be carried out on-site or as can be inluded as part of the Cut-Off Saw Train the Trainer or NOCN Operator Training

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We will liase with the employer to agree the type of masks that will be used for testing and certification and these will form the basis of the face fit. If non of these masks fit an operator, other alternatives will be used.

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Operators will be required to arrive for testing clean shaven. Anyone not clean shaven cannot be fitted and would be refused testing. In order to maintain the validation of any face fit, operators would need to remain clean shaven.

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Foe more information about Face Fit you can click on this link : https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg479.htm and click on the free download

 

The new Apprenticeship Standards are being used by employers and training providers from 2019 to develop the ‘on the job and off the job training provision for apprentices. These Standards are the basis for the Assessment Plans that are used by End Point Awarding Organisations when assessing the apprentices once they have passed through the task ‘gateway’.

 

In the Bricklayer Standard, the Core Skills of operatives includes the ‘Safe use of ‘disc cutters’ and power cutters.

 

In the Roofer Standard, the Core Skills of operatives requires them to ‘Set-up, check and operate power tools’ (including cut-off saws) and to ‘maintain and store tools’

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In the Horticulture and Landscape Operative Standard, for the Landscape Construction Role, the Core Skills of operatives includes ‘the safe use of abrasive wheels for cutting hard landscape materials during construction’.

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In the Steel Fixer Standard the core skill of operatives will have the skill to be able to demonstrate the ability to cut reinforcing steel

 

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For all these apprentices to pass this gateway they will be required to demonstrate to their training provider and End Point Assessor that they are competent to use these machines.

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The NOCN 'Safe Use of Cut-Off Saw (including Abrasive Wheels) Certificate provides this.

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The NOCN Certificate will help apprentices to be confident using the equipment and they can show their certificate when being observed by the independent assessor assigned by the End Point Assessment Organisation during their final Assessment.

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The STIHL Cut-Off Saw Tutor Training will enable colleges to professionally deliver the required level of Cut-Off Saw training and follow STIHL training standards.

 

Through successful completion, tutors can deliver the NOCN Cut-Off Saw training required by the apprentices

 

 

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