As of 2018, the PAS 43:2015 standard has been withdrawn and replaced with the PAS 43:2018, which includes changes to recovery vehicle requirements, a requirement for enhanced training for technicians that also includes specialist personnel. This standard update has been enforced in response to six fatal accidents involving UK roadside assistance operators in one single year. We all know that people working on motorway hard shoulders and high speed carriageways have a dangerous job, and this PAS 43 has been developed to improve the safety for the men and women working on the roads.

Who is the PAS 43 applicable to?

Roadside assistance providers of any kind, including those who specialise in tyres, fuel, and electric hybrids, can gain the PAS 43 specification. Emergency services, those working for the government, courts and the HSE would also benefit from reviewing the new certification as a benchmark for all safe working practices on high speed roads in the UK.

Why should you use this PAS?

As an employer of roadside recovery workers, utilising this PAS gives you access to the requirements needed to provide the safest working environments for your employees. A full comprehension of the updated PAS will provide you with the skills to manage and assess situations on the road, as well as managing your team to ensure risks of accidents are reduced. Included in the PAS are best practice procedures for the following:

• Attending vehicle breakdowns and their safe recovery and/or removal
• Other aspects of vehicle breakdown, recovery and removals including:
  • The type, maintenance and safety marking of road recovery vehicles and their equipment
  • The training, competence and behaviour of road recovery technicians
  • The use of personal safety and protective equipment and clothing (PPE) by road recovery technicians
  • The maintenance and organisation of road recovery operators’ premises
  • The effective implementation and maintenance of standard operating procedures

So what has changed in this PAS?

As per stakeholder feedback, the main changes from the 2015 edition include:

• Clause 6 & 7, which regards the requirements for road recovery vehicles and their equipment
• Clause 9,10 and Annex C, which regards training, competence and behaviour of road recovery technicians has been extensively revised and includes examples of training and assessment for vehicle technicians and specialist job roles.

How to gain PAS 43 certification?

Research into what you specifically need to make yourself comply with all regulation, start making those changes before applying for the certification. At T & C Services we stock all the complying equipment you need to carry on your recovery vehicles and will provide test certificates to prove this fact. Once you are sure you comply to all requirements, it is a simple procedure involving four main steps; your application, your assessment, your certification, and your ongoing maintenance.