The OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence Assessment is designed to establish whether a candidate has the knowledge, understanding and practical skills required to fulfil the role safely and effectively.
Being ready for the assessment means more than feeling confident about your practical abilities. You must also meet the relevant entry requirements, have the correct documentation and be prepared to demonstrate your competence consistently throughout the assessment.
Check that you meet the entry requirements
The Competence Assessment is intended for personnel who want to become OPITO-certified competent Banksmen and Slingers. Candidates may be eligible because they have completed the OPITO Initial Training and gained the required workplace experience, because they hold a recent OPITO Competence Assessment or Reassessment certificate, or because they possess an accepted equivalent qualification.
For candidates following the Initial Training route, OPITO requires a valid Initial Training certificate awarded within the previous 32 months. The candidate must also have a fully completed and valid Workplace Experience Logbook, together with the supporting evidence required for the applicable tasks.
The logbook must be signed as true and valid by the appropriate head of discipline or discipline manager within the employing company. The training centre must confirm that the logbook and evidence are present and correct before the assessment can take place.
The exact evidence requirements can be affected by when the candidate completed the Initial Training standard, so anyone who is unsure should contact Carl Wright Training Services before booking.
Review your workplace evidence
Your logbook should demonstrate that you have gained relevant experience rather than simply attended the workplace for a set period.
Before your assessment date, carefully review every section of the logbook. Check that the entries are complete, that the required evidence has been included and that the appropriate person has signed the documentation.
Leaving these checks until the assessment day could result in a delay if anything is incomplete or cannot be verified.
Prepare to demonstrate competence
The assessment is not an additional training course. Its purpose is to establish whether you can perform the Banksman & Slinger role safely and effectively.
You should be prepared to demonstrate your underpinning knowledge and practical ability across the four mandatory assessment units. The assessment has seven guided learning hours and is normally completed in one day. Successful candidates receive an OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence Assessment certificate that is valid for two years.
Preparation should involve reviewing the knowledge gained through your training and considering how you have applied it during workplace experience. You should be able to work methodically, communicate clearly and demonstrate the safe approach expected from a competent Banksman & Slinger.
Competence Assessment or Reassessment?
Competence Reassessment is for personnel who wish to renew a valid OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence or Competence Reassessment certificate.
A candidate whose certificate has expired by more than six months will need to complete OPITO Initial Training before undertaking the Competence Assessment. In this particular situation, OPITO does not require the candidate to complete another Workplace Experience Logbook.
Checking your certificate dates and eligibility before booking will help ensure that you attend the correct assessment.
To learn more about our OPITO Competence Assessment training courses, click the button below:
For further information, contact Carl Wright Training Services on 01502 568895.
