MPQC Operator Competency Scheme – Updated for 2023

Certora Training have been an approved provider of the MPQC Operator Competency Scheme – the assessment standard for the minerals processing and extractives industry used to assess operators of mobile plant equipment in many onsite environments – for over 15 years. We provide our customers with operator training and assessments on all categories of mobile and static plant, and vocational qualifications relevant to the extractive, processing, construction, and road surfacing environments.

The MP Awards – Industry Scheme’s team at MPQC have introduced some key changes that will make the scheme more accessible, sustainable, and inclusive of the various industry environments. Below we hope to remind readers of the scheme format and provide an update on the recent developments:

• Assessed Operator

Operators should continue to be trained to use the equipment and following job specific training and a period of supervised operation they should then receive an onsite assessment delivered by an MPQC Approved Assessment Centre.

This assessment consists of a multiple-choice Health and Safety Theory Test and a Practical Assessment of the operator completing, pre, post and operational checks of the machine and operating it to complete specific tasks determined by the site environment and its operational function. Upon successful completion the operator will be an “Assessed Operator”

• Competent Operator

Once an Assessed Operator, individuals will be registered and inducted to complete the relevant VQ. Under the updated scheme, operatives will be classed as working in one of the below environments and should complete the recommended qualification;

1. Plant – Operatives can do either MPQC L2 Diploma in Minerals Products Mobile Plant Operations or MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Minerals Products Processing Operations
2. Construction - Level 2 Diploma in Plant Operation (Construction)
3. Road Surfacing – Level 2 Diploma in Road Building and Maintenance (Construction)

• No More Red and Blue Cards

During 2023 MP Awards will phase out the production of Red and Blue MPQC cards for all new assessments and reprints. Much of the industry should now be aware of the MPQC Connect Smart Card – MPQC’s answer to the approval and management of contractor skills onsite. Powered by the MPQC Nexus database – the central depository for all MPQC assessments and qualifications – this system will allow operators and site managers to access assessment records by logging on to the MPQC App or scanning the QR code on the back of their SMART Card

The operative’s records will be displayed onscreen, making the process of checking the skills, training and qualifications of individuals accessible and secure. Users will have a greater depth of information about the MPQC assessment including machine capacity, attachments and importantly details of the tasks that the operative has been assessed to complete. Training records will be displayed using a traffic light system.

Green = the operator holds a current in date record

Amber = the operator has three months or less until the training expires

Red = the operator’s training has expired

For further information and questions about the updated scheme contact our training experts at Certora Training on 01246 386900 or speak with the team at MP Awards.