EPR Scotland is one of the UK’s leading independent generators of renewable energy. Their plant at Westfield, Fife in Scotland specialises in converting poultry litter into electricity.
It is the first and only poultry litter fuelled power station in Scotland and also the first in the world utilising fluidised bed technology. Their output reduces CO2 emissions by some 22,000 tonnes each year by displacing the equivalent amount of generation from gas fired plants. This equates to taking more than 8,500 cars off the UK's roads.
Background
Keeping their workforce safe has always been a top priority for the company since the power station was first commissioned back in 2000. Karen Reddington of EPR initially attended a training course herself at MRS Training & Rescue and was impressed with the quality and experience of the tutor.
A full suite of Health & Safety Training from MRS for over 20 years
Karen contacted Errol Parrish, Operations Manager at MRS Training & Rescue in Fife, and for over 20 years, we have provided, and continue to provide, the majority of health and safety training for EPR Scotland.
Our team of qualified professionals provide EPR with City & Guilds accredited confined space training. We blend classroom learning with practical assessments ensuring all EPR personnel have the knowledge and best practice methods to work in confined spaces safely. And when refresher training is needed, we deliver that as well to ensure all their people have up to date knowledge and skills.
As a leading First Aid training and assessment provider we have also provided EPR with First Aid at Work training and First Aid Refresher training for several years. Fully approved by the MP Awards, our courses are a combination of classroom and practical sessions, ensuring delegates have the skills, knowledge and confidence to use what they have been taught and assessed against, should they need to.
Other training provided includes work at height training, manual handling and fire safety training, some of which has been carried out at the company’s training centre in nearby Crossgates in Fife, and some at the EPR plant itself.
We have also trained EPR’s own rescue team who are needed when any of the boilers or tanks are shut down for maintenance, inspection or cleaning work. MRS have created bespoke training to suit the needs of EPR, ensuring it relates to the spaces and situations the employees there find themselves in. We have also recommended rescue equipment which EPR have purchased from MRS, and provide other services such as the calibration of gas detectors.
Over the last 21 years we have expanded our workforce, always making sure each employee has the right training for their job and that it is always kept up to date. The nature of our work means we operate in confined spaces and ensuring our teams are competent to work in them safely is very important. Equally, ensuring our teams are fully trained to provide specialist emergency rescue support should we need is vital too, so when we were looking for a provider in Scotland, we wanted to make sure we chose one that had the top credentials we were looking for. Our commitment to health and safety is a fundamental part of our business and it’s good to know we are in safe hands with MRS Training & Rescue.
We have a great relationship with the team at EPR Scotland and it has been a pleasure to work with them for so many years. We have taken time to really understand their business and have provided bespoke tailored solutions that meet their exact needs. We are looking forward to many more years of working together to keep their people safe whilst at work.
