What is PASMA
Founded in 1974, the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (PASMA), is the recognised focus and authority for mobile access towers. PASMA advances safety, standards and best practice across a wide range of sectors and represents the interests of its members in the UK, South Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East.
Whatever the need, the association has tower information, facts and expertise to impart at a level to suit everyone – from first time users to major contractors. Independent and self-financing, PASMA shapes and supports the future of the industry through the knowledgeable and enthusiastic involvement of its members, suppliers, specifiers and users.
You should be PASMA trained if any of these apply to you:
There’s a range of different PASMA training courses available, but you’ll only need to take the courses that are relevant to your role and the types of equipment you use.
A typical PASMA course will start in a classroom, where you’ll be introduced to your training instructor. All PASMA courses are led by an instructor who’s an expert in towers and low-level access equipment. You’ll also meet the other delegates – there can be up to 12 people on a course. Some could be complete beginners and others more experienced towers users, but your instructor will go at a pace that includes everyone.
First, they will give a presentation. This covers the theory you need to know – for example, depending on the course you’ve chosen, they might introduce you to different tower components and explain your legal responsibilities. This usually lasts a few hours, but there’s no set time. For some courses, you can do this part of the course online.
To keep you engaged, your instructor will ask questions and spark group discussions. You can make notes and ask questions as you go. When your instructor is confident you’re ready, you’ll sit a theory assessment.
If your course lasts a full day, there will be a break for lunch after the assessment.
If your course includes a practical section, this is how you’ll spend the rest of the day. You’ve learned a lot during the theory section and now it’s time to put it into practice. Your instructor will split the group into teams and you’ll work together to build and use towers or low-level access equipment while your instructor assesses you. They’ll talk you through each stage and will be keeping a watchful eye to make sure everyone works safely.
If you’ve always wondered what you do on a PASMA course, you should now have a clearer idea of what to expect.
PASMA is the trusted expert on scaffold towers and low-level access equipment. As such, PASMA work closely with organisations like the Health & Safety Executive, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the British Standards Institution, and other safety-minded organisations.
PASMA also members of the Access Industry Forum, a forum that unites all the leading work at height associations, who come together to support and promote codes of good practice, equipment standards, training, education and knowledge in the work at height sector.
PASMA members include companies who manufacture, hire, supply and train people to use towers – not just in the UK, but increasingly internationally too. Our members are generous with their expertise and time.
It means that when PASMA training courses are put together, they benefit from collective industry-wide insights, experience and knowledge. This is what makes PASMA training unique.
You should also know that PASMA instructors are subject matter experts who have been trained by PASMA to deliver courses. Courses take place at approved training centres across the UK, that have high-quality facilities for delegates. Training class sizes are kept small to ensure every delegate gets the support and attention they need.
All these reasons are why PASMA accredited qualifications are widely recognised and accepted by employers and clients worldwide as evidence that a person has been trained to the highest standard on the use of towers or low-level access equipment.
Every PASMA Card and Certificate of Competence confirms the ‘level’ to which the cardholder has been trained. Here are the different levels and what they mean:
U for ‘User’
This is the standard PASMA qualification, meaning the cardholder has trained as a tower user. The ‘category’ shown on the card shows what courses they’ve completed and therefore what types of towers they’re trained to assemble.
I for ‘Instructor’
This is only for those who are qualified to teach one or more PASMA courses. The ‘category’ shown on the card shows what courses they can teach.
M for ‘Manager’
The cardholder manages or supervises people who work at height on mobile access towers and has taken a PASMA course on how to ensure the work is properly planned and organised and that those involved are competent and properly trained.
R for ‘Professional Tower Rigger’ or S for ‘Access Tower Specialist’
This person is an Access Tower Specialist (formerly known as a Professional Tower Rigger), meaning they assemble complex and unusual tower structures as a career. They’ve passed the most advanced tower training course yet created, undertaking intense practical and theory work to prepare them for building towers not covered by the EN 1004 specification.
Tower users can complete a range of PASMA training courses, each one covering a different type of tower. Check the ‘category’ on their card to see which courses they’ve passed.
Similarly, every PASMA instructor is qualified to teach one or more of these courses. Check the ‘category’ on their card to see which courses they can teach.
Here are the different categories and what course they relate to:
A8: Linked Towers
Yes. PASMA courses are formally assessed. All courses include a written assessment and most also include a practical assessment. If you fail an assessment, you will fail the course. Your instructor will do everything they can to prepare you for your assessments. If you do fail, you’ll be able to re-take the course from the beginning again whenever you’re ready.
Most of our courses involve an element of practical work, which means assembling, dismantling, moving and climbing towers. This can be physically demanding, so you do need to be reasonably fit. If you have any doubts about your fitness to use towers, share your concerns with your employer in the first instance. They can conduct an assessment and may be able to put measures in place that allow you to complete the course while taking account of any difficulties you have.
To pass most PASMA courses, you will have to climb to the top of a tower. There will always be guardrails in place to prevent you from falling. However, if you’re afraid of heights, we wouldn’t recommend coming on the course (or using towers at all). If you’re not sure, explain the situation to your employer.
Not all courses involve a practical segment – for example, there’s no tower climbing involved in Towers for Managers – so check to be sure.
Most PASMA courses involve an element of practical work, which means assembling, dismantling, moving and climbing towers. While pregnancy would not automatically exclude you from completing the course, you do need to be in good health, physically fit and able to carry out all practical elements of the course. We recommend speaking to your employer for guidance. If you’re planning to attend a course, please let us know if you’re pregnant.
Tower users must be able to read and understand written language, because they need to read safety notices and instruction manuals. Also, PASMA courses involve a written assessment, which requires the delegate to read and write (although in most cases, it’s multiple choice). Ideally, bring your concerns to the attention of your employer in the first instance, and let us know that you have difficulties reading or writing when you book your course. This way, we can both plan how best to support you. However, we know this isn’t always possible. If you’re due to attend a course and are worried about this, tell your training instructor first thing in the morning. They’re used to supporting delegates with all sorts of challenges and can usually adapt the training to accommodate you.
Your PASMA certification is proof that you’ve received training and are competent to work with scaffold towers. If it’s about to expire, you need to renew your training before the expiry date shown on your certificate. This means you must attend another training course. As part of the course you will complete a written and practical test. Upon successful completion, you will receive a new PASMA certificate.
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