Milking Equipment Association marks milestone
The Milking Equipment Association (MEA) is celebrating after signing up the 200th Level 2 candidate on to its dedicated accreditation scheme, Parlour Safe.
The Milking Equipment Association (MEA) is celebrating after signing up the 200th Level 2 candidate on to its dedicated accreditation scheme, Parlour Safe.
A national scheme launched to provide a benchmark of the competence of milking technicians, the LTA MEA Parlour Safe qualification is open to both dealers and self-employed technicians and is supported by all of the UK’s major milking equipment manufacturers.
To be eligible to enrol on the LTA MEA Level 2 programme, individuals need to have successfully completed Level 1 or to already be trained technicians with up to two years’ practical experience. Candidates are required to further their knowledge of the milking industry by studying 27 distinct modules including everything from animal behaviour and physiology through to the more technical elements of parlour hydraulics and pneumatics over a two year period.
Roger Lane-Nott, Director General and CEO of the Milking Equipment Association, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Parlour Safe and demonstrates the growing awareness of its value to all those involved in the milking industry. With the advancement of technology and the increasing sophistication of milking equipment, the need for fully qualified technicians has never been greater.
“The Parlour Safe scheme will not only help farmers ensure that risk to the wellbeing and health of their herd is minimised, but will also provide them with the ultimate confidence that they are receiving a high level of expertise in design, installation, maintenance servicing and repair from fully accredited technicians.”
The first qualified technicians graduated from Parlour Safe in February 2013 and since then the scheme has enjoyed a number of successes with independent technicians and dealers from across the UK pledging their support.
Mike Cullen from Reaseheath College, which runs the accreditation scheme under the administration of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, commented: “To welcome our 200th individual onto the scheme is hugely positive news for Parlour Safe and we are delighted that dealers, processors and individuals UK-wide are recognising the significance of it.
“Parlour Safe truly is a ‘world first’ with nothing else like it in terms of accreditation, which is why we are all so eager to demonstrate its real tangible benefits to the industry. The scheme not only provides farmers with the utmost assurance that installation and maintenance of their equipment is in the safest of hands, but it also recognises individual professionalism – something that is imperative if we are to support and nurture the next generation of milking industry technicians.”
Once individuals have successfully completed the LTA MEA Level 2 programme, they are eligible to proceed to Levels 3 and 4 to work towards becoming an MEA Technician and MEA Master Technician respectively.
Parlour Safe is needed to ensure that farmers have quality, qualified technicians working on their milking machines where raw milk is in direct contact with the machine, and so that they can have confidence that they are receiving a high level of best practice and expertise in the design, installation, servicing and maintenance of their equipment. It also minimises animal health issues, allows the highest quality of milk to be harvested, and attracts new young engineers and technicians as it provides the prospect of a full career. For further information about the Parlour Safe Accreditation Scheme, please visit www.milkingsystems.co.uk, call 01733 207602 or email ceo@aea.uk.com