This apprenticeship has options. This document is currently showing the following option:
This occupation is found in various industries processing or producing products. Employers range from small independent businesses to large multi-national corporations.
This is a core and options apprenticeship standard. Apprentices will complete the core requirements, plus one option:
1. Mobile plant
2. Static plant
The broad purpose of this occupation is to process raw material or waste into a high-quality product, often meeting a product specification. This product may be needed to meet global infrastructure requirements or to improve our environment. Material processing plant operators operate either fixed or mobile specialist plant equipment to a high standard, efficiently and safely complying with legislation, company policies and procedures. It is likely they will specialise on one item of plant and will operate that equipment to a high degree of efficiency. However in some cases operatives may go on to learn to operate multiple items of plant equipment in the production process. In this occupation the operative can process a diverse range of products for various end uses and related manufacturing, such as ready mixed concrete, building and construction products, architectural aesthetic products, landscaping products, waste and recycled products, dimensional stone, cut and carved stone, marine aggregates, mortar, asphalt, cement, wood and timber products, precast or prestressed concrete products, ceramics, metallic, non-metallic or ferrous or non-ferrous alloys. Duties include carrying out proactive and routine maintenance inspections of fixed or mobile specialist plant equipment. They are expected to report plant defects, monitor the quality and specification of the products produced, conduct risk assessments and work to safe operating procedures, communicate with all stakeholders in a busy environment, they will be able to demonstrate a good product knowledge and a strong discipline towards safety, overall health, and sustainability. Employers encourage diversity so operators will be expected to promote the business culture towards a diverse workforce, supporting colleagues in all aspects of overall wellbeing. The associated job roles work with specialist plant and equipment that can be fixed or mobile each capable of moving and processing up to several thousands of tonnes of materials every day. Progression routes from this role can lead to team leaders, shift or site supervisors and managers and operation managers.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a team of operatives in various aspects of production or process. The operatives will work mainly in an outdoor environment in all seasons and weathers in a diverse range of environments from urban sites to countryside operations.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for processing materials or producing high quality end products for customers, often meeting a strict specification. Operators can work alone as well as in a team and they will work with a level of autonomy operating expensive equipment. Employees are expected to have a high degree of self-discipline, safety first focussed and be able to constructively challenge anyone who may be acting unsafe.
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Duty 1 Conduct prestart and routine safety checks on the equipment and the working area in line with regulations, company policies and procedures. |
K1 K2 K8 K9 K12 K13 K15 K17 K18 |
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Duty 2 Carry out mobile or static plant operations sustainably and minimise waste. |
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Duty 3 Work with colleagues to achieve work goals. Promote overall wellbeing and ensure a positive approach to inclusivity. |
K5 K6 K7 K10 K11 K12 K13 K15 K19 |
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Duty 4 Contribute to continuous improvement activities. |
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Duty 5 Conduct planned and preventative maintenance in line with regulations, manufacturers guidance, company policies and procedures. |
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Duty 6 Plan and prepare for the task ensuring availability of equipment and resources. |
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Duty 7 Complete handover requirements. |
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Duty 8 Keep stakeholders such as colleagues and line managers informed about materials processing work. |
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Duty 9 Operate mobile plant to carry out tasks in line with process operations, regulations, manufacturers guidance, mobile plant operating specifications, and company policies and procedures. |
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Duty 10 Position mobile plant in designated parking area and carry out shut down process in line with regulations, manufacturers guidance, mobile plant operating specifications, company policies and procedures. |
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Duty 11 Identify and report issues with materials or products. |
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Duty 12 Extract materials using mobile plant equipment. |
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Duty 13 Operate static plant to carry out tasks in line with process operations, regulations, manufacturers guidance, mobile plant operating specifications, and company policies and procedures. |
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Duty 14 Process materials to meet specification. |
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Duty 15 Check and maintain stocks of materials for processing. |
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Duty 16 Monitor quality of raw materials and products during operation. |
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Duty 17 Adjust the plant equipment to maintain quality and specification of the product. |
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K1: Processing plant incident management - fire, accidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences. Reporting process. Mitigation methods.
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K2: Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Hazards and risks. Health and Safety at Work Act. Isolation procedures. Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWER). Manual handling. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Risk assessments and safe systems of work. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height.
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K3: Impact of the sector on the environment. Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
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K4: Reporting and escalation procedures.
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K5: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them.
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K6: Non-verbal communication techniques: gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact, body language.
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K7: Awareness of team working principles.
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K8: Tools and equipment used in materials processing. Purpose and operation.
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K9: The use of manufacturer’s instructions and manuals.
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K10: Awareness of issues and common symptoms and warning signs of stress, anxiety and depression. Where to go for help and the resources available.
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K11: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the impact on own work.
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K12: Quality assurance requirements and monitoring processes.
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K13: Documentation methods and requirements - digital and paper based.
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K14: Maintenance practices and techniques: planned, preventative, predictive and reactive methods and their frequency.
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K15: Stock requirements. Stock considerations: availability, stock levels, stock lead times, stock rotation and stock quality management.
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K16: Raw materials used in materials processing. Where they come from and what they are used for.
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K17: Pre-start checks of plant equipment.
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K18: Post operation checks of plant equipment.
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K19: Learning and development; company policy on identifying learning and development needs and meeting them.
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K20: Handover procedures.
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K21: Hazards and risks of operating mobile plant equipment.
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K22: Operational and technical aspects of mobile plant equipment. Efficient operations, additional cab equipment or operator aids, capabilities of the plant, the correct plant attachment for the task.
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K23: Mobile plant specifications and operating limits.
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K24: The use of mobile equipment and attachments.
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K25: Consumables used in the role.
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K26: Hazards and risks of operating static plant equipment.
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K27: Operational and technical aspects of fixed plant equipment. Efficient operating processes, capacities, and capabilities of the plant, adjustments of the processes to maintain quality and specification of the product.
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K28: Manufactured products and product specifications.
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K29: Principles of inspection of raw materials to be used as part of the processing operation.
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K30: Emergency stop procedures.
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S1: Conduct pre-start checks of plant equipment.
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S2: Conduct post operation checks of plant equipment.
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S3: Identify and report environmental issues of work undertaken.
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S4: Conduct maintenance activities such as planned, preventative, predictive or reactive.
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S5: Use materials, fluids or lubricants required for operation and maintenance.
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S6: Monitor stock levels.
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S7: Monitor end product quality and report issues.
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S8: Carry out and record learning and development activities.
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S9: Comply with health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. Comply with safe systems of work.
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S10: Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S11: Lock off and isolate equipment or systems using Lockout, Tag out, Try out (LOTOTO) procedures.
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S12: Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
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S13: Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
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S14: Communicate with others verbally for example colleagues and stakeholders.
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S15: Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, checklists, pre-start and post operation check records, waste records.
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S16: Identify and take action when observing unsafe practice.
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S17: Carry out risk assessments.
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S18: Applies team working principles.
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S19: Follow handover procedures.
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S20: Use mobile plant equipment to transport materials identified for production.
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S21: Operate mobile plant.
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S22: Select and checks mobile equipment or attachment.
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S23: Identify and report issues with raw materials such as contamination.
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S24: Process products.
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S25: Operate static plant to produce a manufactured product.
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S26: Complete inspection of raw materials.
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S27: Monitor static plant processing and adjust tolerances.
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S28: Follow emergency stop procedures.
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S29: Calibrate equipment prior to use.
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S30: Check and confirm raw materials into the correct location.
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B1: Team-focus to meet work goals.
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B2: Act ethically.
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B3: Seek learning and continuous personal development opportunities.
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B4: Seek opportunities to help and assist colleagues.
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B5: Support an inclusive workplace, for example respectful of different views or beliefs.
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B6: Put health and safety first.
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B7: Considers the environment and sustainability.
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English and maths qualifications form a mandatory part of all apprenticeships and must be completed before an apprentice can pass through gateway. The requirements are detailed in the current version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band has been revised. | 22/04/2024 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 06/06/2017 | 21/04/2024 |
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