Fortunately, the experienced assessors at SB Skills Solutions have supported countless individuals with obtaining the necessary qualifications to become a plant operator in the construction sector.

Thanks to our extensive experience in this industry, we understand the right training can be crucial to boosting your earning potential.

Below, we consult various reliable sources to explore the typical wage you can expect to earn as a plant operator in the UK.

What is a plant operator?

A plant operator is a position that involves supervision of the daily running of an industrial plant.

One of the main responsibilities of this role is operating the plant’s heavy machinery.

In the construction industry, this often refers to machinery such as ride-on road rollers, crawler cranes, forward tipping dumpers, and mini excavators.

Typically, plant operators can find work in power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, wastewater treatment plants, gas extraction facilities, and a wide range of other industrial, chemical, and nuclear plants.

In general, the responsibilities of a plant operator include:

• Supervising and overseeing operations
• Monitoring process parameters
• Performing maintenance tests on machinery and equipment
• Making sure relevant safety rules are followed
• Operation of heavy machinery and equipment
• Transportation of a range of materials

How much do plant operators make?

To provide you with a more accurate idea of how much plant operators can earn in the UK, our team has consulted several reliable job recruitment sources – including Glassdoor, Totaljobs, and Talent.com.

According to the jobs and recruiting marketplace, Glassdoor, the typical plant operator salaries in the UK vary between £23K-£34K a year, with an average wage of £28K per year.

However, one of the UK’s leading job boards, Totaljobs, suggests a slightly higher average salary for plant operators in the UK – £32,500.

It also provides a wide overall range of wages for this position of between £27,681 and £37,500.

Another trusted source, Talent.com, a leading job search platform, provides similar figures to Totaljobs. Based on 5381 salaries, it adds that the average plant operator salary in the UK is £27,836 per year (or £14.27 per hour), with entry-level positions starting at £24,000 and increasing up to £37,050 per year.

As a result, based on the information available to these job and recruitment sources, we can surmise that a plant operator in the UK is likely to make in the range of £23K-£37 a year.

What is the highest salary for a plant operator?

According to information from the aforementioned sources, the highest salary a plant operator can achieve in the UK seems to be just over £37K.

However, other sources, such as the job search engine Adzuna, puts the average plant operator salary at £41,238 per year in the UK – based off live stats from their plant operator vacancies posted on their database.

Using this same information, it also states that the average annual wage for a plant operator in Cumbria, UK, is substantially higher at £56,520.

As with most professions, the individual’s location will therefore also play a role in determining their earning potential.  

This is substantiated by the job matching and hiring platform, Indeed, which shows a significant difference between the salary for a plant operator in Avonmouth, Bristol (£19.68 per hour) compared to those in Sidcup, London (£13.98).

If you’d like a clearer idea of your earning potential as a plant operator in the UK, you must therefore take into account your location – as well as your experience, qualifications, and the current demand for plant operators.

Are plant operators in demand?

According to the latest analysis from PwC following the publication of their Construction & Housebuilding Outlook 2024 report, the UK construction sector is on track to experience a slight decline in activity in 2024.

However, it also predicts that there will be a return to growth in 2025.

This is due to a purported “substantial shift in the UK construction sector” as the industry transitions from repair and maintenance activities to focusing on new builds.

In some cases, construction plant operators may not be needed for repair and maintenance works, but they are particularly crucial on new build construction sites thanks to their heavy machinery skills.

They can use this machinery to dig, lift, and move materials on building sites, making them essential to the new build construction process.

Based on the findings from this report, it’s therefore likely there will be greater demand for plant operators and other positions within the construction industry in the near future to support this expected growth.

Plant operator training courses with SB Skills Solutions

Does a career as a plant operator in the construction industry seem like a good fit for you and your salary aspirations?

If so, please don’t hesitate to contact the professional team at SB Skills Solutions today.

We offer a wide range of plant operator training courses in the UK and can even help you to achieve your NVQ Level 2 Plant Operations qualification – a Construction Plant Competence Scheme-recognised qualification that can increase your earning potential.

Once you obtain this crucial qualification, you can then apply for your blue CPCS Competence Card.

As the holder of a blue CPCS Competence Card, you’ll be able to easily demonstrate to employers that you have the competency, skills, and experience to safely operate a certain type of plant.

Whether you require expert help choosing the right plant operator course or have a question about our services, we’d love to hear from you.

To learn more about the contents of one of our plant operator courses or to discuss your specific training requirements in more detail, please feel free to give us a call on 01695 558420. You can also reach out via email by sending your enquiry to info@sbskills.co.uk. Upon receiving your enquiry regarding our plant operator training courses, you can rest assured that we’ll be in touch shortly to find out more about your needs

The post How much do plant operators make in the UK? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

The site says I can’t work with a driving ban

Unfortunately, the site rules are up to the site owners/management. If you work on a site which states that you must not operate the machinery with a driving ban, you must comply with the site rules. This could lead to dismissal from your current role due to a ‘statutory restriction‘. Site rules may differ, depending on what the driving ban was for, but the site rules must be followed at all times.

Road Traffic Act Section 34

Under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the law states that “if without lawful authority a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on to or upon any common land, moorland or land of any other description, not being land forming part of a road” the person is guilty of an offence. This could be interpreted that you are not allowed to operate the plant machinery if you work on common land. However, with permission from the landowner/manager, you should be allowed to operate the machinery lawfully.

I work on the highways

If you work on the highways you must have a category b license (car license). This means that if you are banned from driving, you are not allowed to operate plant machinery on a public highway or travel down a public highway on a piece of machinery such as a forward tipping dumper or forklift.

So can I get on-site with a driving ban?

If your employer is happy to allow you to work with a driving ban on a private site, you may do so. However, you may not take the vehicles off-site at all onto a public highway or any common land that you do not have permission to drive on from the landowners. It should also be noted that insurance companies may not insure operators who are banned for certain offences such as drink or drug driving.

The post Operating Plant Machinery With a Driving Ban appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

What is Brexit?

As many know already, Britain is leaving the EU. It is still uncertain as to what is going to happen. We are currently in a transition period (as of 24/02/2020) which means that the UK Government are negotiating so the UK can get the best outcome.

Where are we now?

During the transition period, everything remains uncertain with the Government negotiating new deals. The construction industry has continued to grow over the past few years despite Brexit fears growing. This could show that the construction companies are capitalising before calamity or it could show that the construction industry is strong despite fears.

Will Brexit kill construction?

Of course, it would be hard to kill an entire industry, especially an industry as essential as construction. However, Brexit could damage the construction industry further, when so much progress has been made over recent years.

Supply chain and material costs

The construction industry relies on supply chains that span across the globe. For example, the steel industry relies on imports from China and the EU where steel is cheaper to produce. Out of all steel imports, the EU makes up 69% which could hurt the steel working trade financially. This is due to the restrictions that could be put in place regarding trading with the EU alongside the fall in the value of Pound Sterling. Falling currency value means more expensive imports, resulting in higher costs to UK businesses relying on imports.

Furthermore, transport costs could rise, especially for imports via land. Lorry drivers will experience increased checks at the border, therefore increasing the transport times. Crossing the English Channel will become harder to cross and more documentation could be required. This could cause further travel delays and increase transport costs across the industry.

Construction exports are not the main source of construction revenue. This is down to the requirement of labour to carry out work and the higher costs associated with working abroad. If a UK-based company decided to work in another country, transport, wages, regulations and materials would all have to be taken into account. This would lead to uncompetitive rates against foreign contractors.

Labour and Employment

With the UK leaving the EU, labour shortages are a worry for many, especially the construction industry. The construction industry is currently facing a skills and labour shortage, due to the ageing workforce. More construction workers are retiring from the construction industry than are joining it. This has caused a shift in the average age of a construction worker. This could be further damaged if EU labour is removed from the equation as there are 3 million non-UK construction workers, with EU workers making up 30% of all labour.

This will cause an increase in the cost of construction as labour prices rise due to a shortage in the supply of labour. This opens up the UK construction industry to competition from foreign construction companies with lower costs. If the UK is unable to compete with foreign companies, it could lead to the downfall of the UK construction industry.

What can be done?

This all sounds terrible but what can be done to resolve the issues in the construction industry arising from Brexit and other external factors?

Apprenticeships

Firstly, apprenticeships! We’re always talking about how beneficial apprenticeships are for businesses, but they could well save the construction industry too. With apprentices being predominantly younger workers, it kills two birds with one stone, the ageing construction workforce and the skills shortage. The UK government has put a large amount of money into the UK apprenticeship scheme as a whole, but CITB has gone one step further in providing extra provisions for construction companies.

With many apprentices being unable to drive, CITB is paying for all accommodation and travel for apprentices if it is required and they meet the requirements. This has helped to bring more apprentices into the industry.

CITB Levy Grants

Spending a little, and getting a lot back sounds great for many in construction. This is the case with the CITB Levy as many employers are able to upskill their workforce with CITB funding they can claim back. This has helped to aid the construction skills gap and bring the UK workforce a higher quality of labour. By making training more accessible for employers, the quality of work and efficiency in construction increases. This will help the UK to stay competitive in a time of uncertainty such as Brexit.

Modular Housing

Modular housing isn’t anything new, with the first modular homes reportedly arising in 1933, however, it has become widely popularised in recent years. Modular housing could help the construction industry greatly with lower costs and quicker production methods. Construction times can be cut by up to 50% with modular housing as groundworks can be carried out at the same time as the actual building work. This could be seen as very attractive to major contractors looking to meet tightening deadlines.

This could also help to get more young people into construction. Many young people have the misconception that site work is dirty and for uneducated people which isn’t the case. However, changing this misconception proves difficult, whereas moving production inside factories could help to change views of the construction industry, this would help to further decrease the ageing workforce in construction.

Funded Training

Alongside the CITB Levy, the government is also funding training courses directly. SB Skills also offer a range of fully-funded training through the SSW. This has directly had an impact on employed staff as companies have better access to free or almost free training.

Is construction dead?

Overall, no. But Brexit presents numerous challenges for both the Government and construction companies across the UK. With trade deals currently being negotiated, we are still to see where we will end up after we complete the transition period. However, there hasn’t been a better time than now to get into construction. Construction companies will place the labour force in high demand and this could put you in the optimal position to upskill yourself and further your career.

The post Will Brexit Kill the Construction Industry appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

CPCS or the Construction Plant Competency Scheme is a plant-based accreditation that tests a delegates knowledge and competency on the machine of choice.

This accreditation uses a 2-card scheme to confirm levels of competency and training. The Red Trained Operator card is the first card in the scheme which expires after a 2 year period which can then be upgraded with the NVQ. The Red Trained Operator card can be achieved by passing the theory and practical test at our centre in Burscough. Once you pass these tests you will receive the card and be free to operate the plant machinery that you have achieved.

This card can be upgraded using the NVQ which will change your Red Trained Operator card into a Blue Competent Operator card. This card lasts a further 5-years and can be renewed easily with a renewal test and a validated log book with 300 operator hours.

CPCS is probably the most widely accepted card scheme on construction sites, as contractors will almost never turn someone away because of having a CPCS card. This is mainly down to it originally being run by CITB, which is the training board for the entirety of the UK. CPCS is now being run by NOCN which is another major awarding body that works on a global scale.

What is NPORS

The National Plant Operators Registration Scheme, is a plant-based accreditation like CPCS, consists of a similar card scheme with a few exceptions. This awarding body has 3 cards, the “Traditional NPORS card”, the “Red Trained Operator card” and the “Blue Competent Operator card”.

NPORS works like CPCS with the red card and the blue card as you undertake similar tests. The main differences come from the cost, the testing and the traditional card that they offer.

Starting with the cost of the NPORS training and testing. NPORS, tends to be the cheaper option compared to CPCS as the training and testing can be held on your own site, provided the area is adequate. This can help to cut down on travel costs, equipment hire. Costs can also be cut from the training provider’s side, as they don’t have to use their own training area which means they can offset the cost benefits to you!

The testing with NPORS also differs from CPCS slightly, especially in the theory testing area. The theory test consists of fewer questions than CPCS which may work in your favour if you’re stronger on the practical side of operating plant machinery.

Finally, the traditional card offered by NPORS. This card is not as accepted as the newer cards that they offer as they don’t have the CSCS logo on. Construction sites like to see that the card is recognised by CSCS, so they prefer that operators have CPCS or the new NPORS cards with the CSCS logo. This isn’t to say that the card is useless by any means. If you are operating on a private site that only requires a card to prove that you can operate for insurance or safety purposes, they may well accept this card.

If you’re interested in learning more about NPORS. Take a look and see if NPORS is the best option for you.

Which is better?

Well, that’s not for us to say but there are a number of benefits to both of the card schemes. If you’re considering working on large contractor’s sites then CPCS may be the option for you, however many of the larger contractors are now accepting the NPORS card. If you already have a job lined up or you’re considering upskilling on your site, then it’s probably best to ask your company if NPORS or CPCS are accepted before making your decision.

Browse our course calendar and book your next CPCS or NPORS course.

The post The difference between NPORS and CPCS appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

You’ve probably noticed every industry becoming more and more autonomous, but have you ever wondered whether the construction industry could be autonomous too? There have been a few advancements into the construction industry regarding autonomy but it looks like health and safety could prevent advancements into autonomous machinery.

What advancements have been made?

Recently, Komatsu released a line of autonomous dump trucks designed for the mining industry. The “Komatsu Autonomous Haulage Vehicle” is a huge, 416-tonne dumper that can carry 230 tonnes. The lack of operator in this vehicle is shocking however it shows that there truly is research going into this industry. This advancement may be an indicator that the construction industry is heading towards a more automated, robotic future.

We also covered an advancement into operator-less excavators a few months ago. The concept was to utilise the new 5g technology in order to make use of operators in different countries to operate excavators in remote locations. Although this was controlled by an operator, the development shocked many.

What are the dangers of autonomous machinery?

Of course, with any autonomous machinery technology, the risks have to be assessed. There are a few potential hazards that are clear. The first obvious risk is that a person could get injured by the machines if the machine does not detect them in its path. This will hopefully not be an issue as driverless technology has come a long way, especially shown by the driverless cars in the USA.

The use of operator-less technology being implemented into excavators could be dangerous also as there is potential to dig through gas lines or electrical lines. An operator should be knowledgeable of the area that they are digging however an autonomous machine may well excavate an area it isn’t meant to before it is noticed due to human error when it is programmed.

Does the industry appear to be adopting autonomous machines?

The construction industry seems to be adopting this technology, however, it doesn’t look like it will be a rapid development. The machines that are developed are far too expensive for the average construction company to buy as they run into the millions of pounds. Although, once the industry adopts it more, the production costs should fall and the technology should be more widely available for companies. Unfortunately, our courses don’t have any autonomous machinery but they might be coming in the future!

The post Will Plant Machinery Be Fully Autonomous? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

This is important news in the Plant Operator industry because towing a trailer with attachments was previously understood to not be classified as “Engineering Plant” by the wider industry.

Following the news, JCB states that they plan on lobbying for a change to this legislation in their blog post here: https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/news/2017/09/uk-legislation-on-towing-a-trailer-with-earthmoving-equipment

They cite in this post that their main point of contention is that is is legal to tow a trailer with attachments behind a car or van, but not a 11.5 tonne excavator which is speed limited! They also state that they will be be working with their engineering devision to find solutions that allows attachments to be carried on-board their excavators and other large machinery.

The post Is it Illegal to tow a trailer with Earthmoving Equipment? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

The Construction industry is a fast-paced industry that sees changes in construction techniques, and popular projects. However, Crawler Crane Operators have seen an astronomical increase in average pay of 54% according to Engage Technology Partners, who have analysed data collected since June 2016. This analysis of the pay changes was attributed pay rises to changes in migrant labour trends.

Additionally, electrical testers saw pay increases of 34% and steel fixers have seen a rise of 22%.

The Director of Engage, Drey Francis commented; “In its report on the potential impact of Brexit on the industry, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) highlighted the sheer extent of reliance on international staff, with some locations such as London reporting that over half of the construction workforce consists of migrant workers. While there’s certainly no agreement on the terms of our exit, the impact on the industry is already being noted – and we can expect to see wages rise further in the near future as talent demands continue to stretch.”

Read more below about the latest in the Crane Operator Industry.

Paul Johnson, director of GH Johnson Crane Hire, one the UK’s biggest crawler crane hire companies, said: “As someone who actually pays crawler crane operators I can assure you that this is utter garbage.”

He added: “The construction sector as a whole is probably busier than it was two years ago – meaning there are more crawler crane operators in full-time employment – but pressure on crane rental rates, caused by competition and cheap finance, means that crawler crane operators’ pay has been almost flat since 2016.”

Author: The Construction Index

Link to original article: https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/crawler-crane-operators-pay-rises-54-in-two-years 

The post Crawler Crane Operator pay rises by 54% in only two years? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

Common School Science Equipment found to contain Asbestos!

Gause Mats used in common secondary school science experiments have been found to contain asbestos.

Gause Mats containing asbestos have been sold by two companies to schools around the UK. These common pieces of science equipment are used in tandem with bunson burners which creates the risk of asbestos becoming airborne. As a result, schools across the UK have been urged to stop science experiments until the safety of these products can be ascertained. Many schools are now halting and delaying science experiments at in the new school year.

Chris Keates, general secretary for NASUWT union stated according to Sky News;

“It is shocking that suppliers, clearly it seems only interested in profit not people, have distributed such life-threatening equipment to schools putting children and teachers and other staff at risk.”

Chris has also added that it is “unacceptable” that the suppliers of asbestos contaminated gause were not named as the information could help schools to work out if they have acquired “potentially deadly material”.

Schools are known to have received guidance on the use of gause dating back to 1976 and there are now growing calls to name the two main suppliers of asbestos contaminated gause.

The Health and Safety Executive has however commented that they believe the risk of harm being caused by asbestos contaminated gause wire is “extremely low” and schools should only stop using gause as a precautionary measure.

Regardless, technicians and teachers are being advised to treat any suspected asbestos contamination seriously by disposing of the hazardous waste in double baggs or by sealing cupboards where gause is stored until it can be confirmed that the products are safe for use.

The Health and Safety Executive has said that their “limited quantitative testing” on gauze from both suppliers demonstrated a 20% – 30% asbestos contamination rate. However, not all samples showed the presence of the rare asbestos, tremolite.

If you are working in the construction and waste management profession, you can have a look at our RoSPA and IATP approved online Asbestos Training course and our equivalent asbestos course for architects and designers!

Read more about this story below…

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Sky News that it is “limited by legal process” in what it can say about the suppliers involved, but said both companies are actively cooperating in its investigation.

A spokeswoman added that it is not clear how many schools, colleges and other users have been affected.

The Department for Education said: “Following advice from the Health and Safety Executive we have immediately written to all secondary schools and colleges advising them to take steps to remove and dispose of potentially hazardous mesh gauze used in science lessons.

“We will continue to liaise with the HSE and CLEAPSS [the organisation which advises local authorities and schools on science and technology] over this issue.”

Officials are investigating how they entered the UK in the first place as EU laws prevent asbestos from being used – and the HSE believes the affected gauze mats are imports. Enforcement notices have been served on the two suppliers involved.

In June and July, several makes of gauze mats in New Zealand were recalled because they were also found to contain tremolite asbestos. However, there is nothing to suggest that the companies affected by these recalls were supplying equipment to the UK.

The NASUWT is demanding to know how the government will support affected schools, which are being told they must pay for affected gauzes to be disposed of as hazardous waste, as well as buy replacements.

A Department for Education spokeswoman told Sky News that schools should seek compensation from their suppliers.

Author: Sonnor Sephton

Link to origional article: https://news.sky.com/story/asbestos-found-in-school-science-lab-equipment-11492785

The post School Science Equipment found containing Asbestos! appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.