PSSA Newsletter - October 2017

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NEWS|ISSUE 17 October 2017
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Installer Scheme
progress
Last month a well-attended meeting of
PSSA installer companies agreed on an
outline framework for progress towards
introducing a new Scheme to accredit
high security product installation
companies. The meeting was chaired
by Adam Binns, of Binns Fencing, and
hosted at Zaun’s Wolverhampton
HQ. Adam, who is also chair of the
Association of Fencing Industries (AFI),
was able to provide guidance to ensure
that any new PSSA initiative will be
complimentary to the AFI’s certified
contractors’ scheme. Any PSSA scheme
will concentrate solely on high security
applications. The outcome of the
meeting is that a consultation paper
will be prepared and circulated for
comment from the wider Association
membership. Meantime thanks to
representatives from companies
including Geoquip, JB Corrie, Littlewood
Fencing and The Fencing Partnership for
their valued input thus far.
Verification
Scheme review
The Working Group reviewing the
recasting of the PSSA Verification
Scheme has been consulting further.
At present they are focusing on the
content of an expanded Code of
Practice to assess if this can provide
the basis for a simplified Scheme which
can be run in parallel with the HVM
Hub initiative (see Chairman’s Report).
Secretary to the PSSA Council, Rob
Oliver, explains; “I’m grateful for the
very supportive work of those involved
in the review. Mike Webb, of Elm Tree
Consulting, has also been able to
draw on his experience of other sector
initiatives which may provide us with a
proven and workable template for the
PSSA.”
PSSA News
Singing Cowboy
with serious security
message
The CPNI website is known as a serious place,
as befits their role in providing security
guidance to those in charge of critical national
infrastructure. However, recent visitors to their
site will have found they have a new recruit to
promote a key security message – a cartoon
singing cowboy! The character is part of the
“It’s OK to Say” education campaign intended
to support organisations with educating
staff on identifying and reporting unusual
or concerning workplace behaviours, and in
setting up mechanisms to promote the appropriate intervention. The hope is that education
on these behaviours will help to build resilience to insider risks and a stronger security culture
for the organisation and its people. The PSSA’s Lisa Bainbridge was impressed, “The “OK to say”
package of materials it a practical toolkit for companies to use to spread a positive security
culture. Also if you hear the singing cowboy’s song just the once it will be an “earworm” for the
rest of the day”. Link to campaign material -
PSSA Contract Law
Service
Earlier this year PSSA introduced an arbitration and
contractual dispute resolution service for the benefit
of its members, offering initial free initial consultations
and discounted fee rates thereafter. Training courses,
aimed at avoiding formal contractual disputes in the
first place, are also available.
This PSSA service is run by Mark Richardson M.B.A,
PGDipAdj, MCIArb, who has spent most of his working
life in the perimeter protection and construction sector
and who is a fully qualified construction industry
contract law arbitrator.
Dave Ashby of Eagle Automation has been one of
the first PSSA members to make use of this service by
recently employing Mark to run an in house course for their key personnel on contract law as
applicable to the construction industry. The course coverage included a focus on the key areas
of negotiating and understanding contract terms.
Dave Ashby commented afterwards “This was a very informative and useful course which
immediately boosted the confidence of the team by improving their understanding of the
potential commercial pitfalls in complicated projects and thus helping to eliminate any
potential conflicts. As a result, Eagle has changed the way that our contracts are managed and
indeed quoted. I think this is must for anyone supplying products or services in this industry”
Mark Richardson said “The operational core of contracting businesses is the regular
formation of binding contractual relationships which, sadly, can sometimes quickly become
adversarial when relationships break down. Specialist sub contractors deserve to be treated
equitably under contract but for that to happen they need to understand the contract they
are committing to”.
If you want further information on this PSSA member service please contact Mark
Richardson direct on 07868 434315 or e mail at