Is a Common UK Competency Scheme a Bear Trap? First Published IET Systems Safety/Sars Joint Conference 2009

Abstract

The 2008 SaRS Annual Conference exposed nationwide shortfalls in both safety and reliability management skills. Coherent assessment became a strategic priority for SaRS as it spans most if not all industrial domains concerned about high hazard activities. A review of known schemes (nuclear, railways, defence and air-traffic industries, academia and industry trainers), revealed in this 2009 paper several common themes. The paper scoped the shape of future debate on competence requirements, an abstract was presented to the Royal Academy of Engineering and it shapes the work of the ESCPD today.The SaRS ESCPD uses a system of peer-review, and a master index of systems-safety competence schemas. The Open Standard doesn't seek to develop yet-another rival scheme but to frame all and help course providers understand good practice. It reflects the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) framework and SaRS now “recognises” modules company competence scheme by endorsing educational levels achieved, CPD and experience. SaRS aspires to provide a route-map for individuals identifying their development needs.Core subjects (drawn from a meta-analysis of existing competency schemes) is shown in a matrix. SaRS will continue to partner with other institutes to gain consensus and increase Eng-Tech and IEng membership in each sectors practising our discipline, to identify \\competence gaps in current courses, routes to achieve a Systems Safety or Systems Reliability professional registration.